Tag: christianity

10 Signs We Are Living As A Legalist

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Practical7 Comments

Legalism is a damaging man-made religion that draws us away from relying on Jesus’ work to relying on our own work. It is defined as an excessive and improper use of the Law, which occurs when we use the Law either to attain or maintain our salvation.

Using the Law to attain or maintain our salvation is not wise, nor good because all those who rely on the works of the law for salvation are under a curse and must keep all of them (Gal. 3:10; James 2:10). Of course, that is not something we can do because none of us are, nor will we ever be perfect.

While we may know the dangers of legalism, we may still find ourselves slipping into legalistic tendencies from time to time, which means it’s important we are aware of the signs that point to legalistic living.

10 Signs We Are Living As A Legalist

(1) We misuse the Spiritual Disciplines – This occurs when we base our worth, as well as God’s love and acceptance of us on whether we have read the Bible, prayed, attended church, or witnessed to X number of people in any given day or week.1 

(2) We judge or criticize other Christians for not keeping certain codes of conduct we deem necessary to be a good Christian – Codes of conduct may include dress, appearance, type of entertainment, how we use our money, food and drink we partake of, etc.

(3) We live by certain codes of conduct because we believe they provide us with God’s approval or acceptance.

(4) We live in constant condemnation or criticism of our own mistakes – As a result, we live with an irresolvable guilt that we can’t shake because we believe we must be perfect to continue our relationship with God.

(5) We struggle to or never confess our sins to God or others – This occurs because our identity is wrapped up in our own manufactured righteousness. Admitting we are not as righteous as what we are working to be, undercuts all our efforts, so we remain silent in regard to our sin hoping they will go away on their own.

(6) We are easily angered, become defensive, or are devastated when others criticize us – This occurs because our identity is wrapped up in producing a righteous persona for others and God to see.2

(7) We volunteer because we believe it earns us greater favor with God, not because we love others and want to serve them. 

(8) We separate ourselves from anything worldly, including friends, co-workers, and neighbors.1

(9) We blame others for our wrong attitude, thoughts, or actions – If others caused us to do it, we can’t be held responsible, which means we are still righteous and acceptable to others and God.2

(10) We are an obsessive rule follower – Following rules is not always a bad thing, it could show submission to authority and a desire to please God. But being obsessive about following rules could be a sign you are living as a legalist.

For 10 more signs see my next post.

Question for Reflection

  1. Does any of these signs resonate with you?

Resources

[1] 4 Signs You Might Be a Legalist

[2] Fighting Legalism in Your Heart

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Safeguarding Your Thoughts and Actions

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Devotionals, QuotesLeave a comment

See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; (Heb. 12:15)

The Lord warns us not to allow the “root of bitterness” to spring up and cause much trouble and defilement. Our hearts and minds make up the seat of sin, and if we allow bitterness to take up residence within, we will find ourselves far from the kingdom if we never come to repentance. This is one of the reasons why gossip is so dangerous. Words spoken in secret reveal the state of one’s heart, and if the state of one’s heart is not oriented toward love of neighbor, as impenitent gossip reveals, then one does not truly love God (1 John 4:20).

A Root of Bitterness is Taking Root

The spreading of misinformation or uncertain facts about another person indicates that a root of bitterness may be slowly taking over one’s heart, inclining it away from the kingdom of heaven.

The Wise Man Safeguards His Thoughts and Actions

Wise people put up safeguards in their thoughts and actions to help keep them from being ensnared by a root of bitterness. Lest our minds lead us astray, it is wise to think on what is true, good, and beautiful so that our thoughts are not filled with curses and other unclean things (Phl. 4.8). At the same time, we should endeavor not to listen to or repeat uncertainties that we hear about others or otherwise gossip about our neighbors.

Question for Reflection

  1. Do you safeguard your thoughts and actions from gossip and bitterness?

Resources

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Headers are mine. Content is from TableTalk Magazine Avoiding Bitterness of Mind and Speech, October 23rd, 2015

Hating Self Towards Repentance in the Gospel

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn DevotionalsLeave a comment

Reformation Day just passed. As a late celebration, I thought we would consider one thesis from Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses. Luther’s fourth thesis of his Ninety-Five Theses says,

“The penalty of sin, therefore, continues so long as hatred of self or true inward repentance continues, and it continues until our entrance into the kingdom of heaven.”

Dr. Stephen Nichols over at 5 Minutes in Church History points out that “after he wrote the Ninety-Five Theses, Luther wrote another document where he elaborates and expands upon each one of the theses. And in [Luther’s] explanations, he clarifies what he means here regarding hatred of self:”

“True sorrow must spring from the goodness and mercies of God, especially from the wounds of Christ, so that man comes first of all to a sense of his own ingratitude in view of divine goodness, and thereupon to hatred of himself and love of the kindness of God. Then tears will flow and he will hate himself from the very depths of his heart, yet without despair.”

Commenting on Luther’s explanation, Dr. Nichols says,

“Luther wanted to emphasize how crucial it is that we recognize our own sinfulness and how odious the stench of our sin is to a holy God.”

It is necessary that we recognize this about ourselves and sin so that we will turn to God for salvation and sanctification. For if we don’t, we will continue to live as sinners, thinking we are pleasing to God. Once, however, we recognize the depth of our sin we should be motivated to forsake our past life and put off the old self for the new in Christ (Col. 3:9-10).

As well as focusing on the mercies and goodness of God that is poured out on us, sinners, who are undeserving of God’s goodness and mercy, should keep us from despair because we know the Lord is for us, saving and sanctifying us with His tender care, not forsaking us, even though our sin is repulsive to Him. Knowing God sees us for who we are, yet still loves, cares, and ultimately saves us by sending His Son to die for us, should encourage us to be honest about our own sin, admitting, repenting, and forsaking it openly before the Lord. As Luther says, we should hate ourselves, not being content with our current state, but always striving to rid sin from our lives through the power of Christ.

Question for Reflection

  1. Do you have a holy hatred for the sin in your life?

Resource

Stephen Nichols, 5 Minutes in Church History: Top 5 of the 95: 2015 edition

Fill Your Affections with the Cross of Christ

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Devotionals, Quotes2 Comments

Indwelling Sin In Believers - John OwenLabour, therefore, to fill your hearts with the cross of Christ. Consider the sorrows he underwent, the curse he bore, the blood he shed, the cries he uttered, the love that was in all this to your souls, and the mystery of the grace of God in it. Meditate on the vileness, the guilt, the punishment of sin as seen in the cross, the blood, and the death of Christ. Was Christ crucified for sin, and shall not our hearts be crucified with him to sin? Shall we give place to, or listen to the folly of, that which wounded, pierced, and slew our dear Lord Jesus? God forbid! Fill your affections with the cross of Christ, that there may be no room for sin. The world once turned him out of doors, into a stable, when he came to save us; let him turn the world out of doors, now that he has come to sanctify us (100).

The Crucible of Refinement

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Discipleship, QuotesLeave a comment

The lion’s den, the crucible, the cold tomb: each offers a second calling. It may come in nudges or whispers, crises or shouts; regardless, these subsequent callings probe us both further into and out of ourselves. In each direction, they bring us closer to God. And, I have found, they make the Bible even more alive. The Word of God becomes increasingly relevant in its reverence. We know this refinement, too, to be true, for “the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times” (Ps. 12:6).

Some crucibles work by heat, others by cold. Some by flame, others by water. We are compressed by too much, or we are cut loose by too little. We burn under pressure or freeze in isolation. Regardless of inner or outer weather, the effect is the same: the extremes in experiences gauge the extremes in our spiritual temperatures. Often the differences in extreme shake us out of the “in” of indifference. We are forced “out,” we are forced through and beyond, we are thrust into the realm of the absolute other – from the personal and particular of self into the infinite and all of God.

Why? Jesus does not want us to be mediocre, to be lukewarm. Indifference is literally revolting to him…We are burned and frozen so that we may find him in our midst.

“For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver…We went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance” (Ps 66:10-12)

Question for Reflection

  1. Do you recognize that the trials you face are designed to sanctify and bring you closer to God?

Resources

Carolyn Weber, Holy is the Day, 63-64.

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Why Aren’t Christians Growing?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Church Life, Discipleship, Practical4 Comments

Why aren’t Christians growing? More specifically, why do Christians become stagnant in Christ-like growth?

What Occurs in Salvation?

If we think about some of what occurs in salvation, this question becomes even more urgent. When we come to Christ, we are:

  • Delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of Christ, releasing us from bondage to sin and Satan (Col. 1:13; Rom. 6:5-7).
  • Redeemed from God’s wrath and forgiven our sin, restoring our relationship with God (Col. 1:14).
  • Given the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13; Rom. 8:9-11).
  • Made a new Creation (2 Cor. 5:17).
  • Given a new desire for the things of God (Rom. 7:22).

If these things, and more, occur in salvation, how can we be stagnant in Christ-like growth?

How is it Possible to be Stagnant in Christ-like Growth?

Paul addresses this issue with the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 3, when he says starting in verse 1,

But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh (1 Cor. 3:1-3a).

The reason they had not grown. The reason Paul wasn’t able to feed them solid food, even after some time, was due to their source of wisdom.

Prior to penning the opening verses of chapter 3, Paul spends the better part of two chapters expounding the difference between the world’s wisdom and God’s wisdom. Paul ends chapter 2, by telling us the natural person is not able to understand the wisdom of God; therefore, they believe it is foolish. On the other hand, Paul tells us, the wisdom of God is understandable to the Christian, and it is prized instead of rejected.

Why are Christians able to understand God’s wisdom, when the world can’t? Christians are able to understand and prize the wisdom of God because they have the mind of Christ. They possess His mindset, which leads them to see God not as a foolish old man in the sky, but as a wise Father who is to be worshipped, sought, led and governed by.

The Ability Isn’t Used

But while the Corinthians have the ability to understand the wisdom of God, they are not seeking it, nor are they living by it. That is the reason they aren’t growing. They aren’t looking to God for wisdom, even though they are able; they are, instead, looking at the world, allowing its wisdom to direct and guide them.

We Do the Same

The Corinthians aren’t the only ones guilty of leaving their God-given ability on the table. We do the same. I believe that is because we often forget the pervasive nature of the world’s wisdom. We forget that the world’s wisdom is there confronting and influencing us every time we turn on the radio, television, and computer. It is there when we open the newspaper and magazine. It is there wherever we go. Since the world’s wisdom is all around us, influencing us in ways we may not readily be aware, we naively believe that that’s just how things are supposed to be done.

We Must Fight With a Christian Worldview

We, however, must fight the tendency to go along with the status quo of society, thinking that is the way we must do things. We must instead turn to God’s Word, to His wisdom, as often as we can, in order to develop a distinctly Christian worldview. One that allows us to judge the world’s advice, thoughts, and judgments with Scripture. One that causes us to look to God’s Word for advice, instead of the latest New York Times best seller. One that causes us to seek Christian counsel, instead of asking our non-Christian co-worker what therapist, pill, or self-help guru pulled them through their latest crisis. If we do that – if we turn to God’s Word and use our God-given ability to discern and understand His wisdom, we would see more Christ-like growth in our lives.

So why do Christians remain stagnant in their growth in Christ-likeness, in their ability to understand the deep things of God’s Word? Because we consistently seek and live by the world’s wisdom, rather than God’s wisdom.

Question for Reflection

  1. Whose wisdom do you often turn to in times of need?

Resource

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