Legalisim Sucks?

Legalisim. 

It's become the buzzword of the 21st Century church.  It is used to define those who are super religious, super judgmental and super hypocritical.   And, rightfully so, sometimes.  When we care more about the length of someone's hair or the amount in their bank account than the depth of their broken heart, that is truly legalistic.

However, in my opinion (and this is my blog so ... I can do that ... lol), we've swung too far the other way.

If we get a speeding ticket, it's aggravating, absolutely.  Would we want a world with no traffic laws?  Absolutely not!  There is a place for legalities. 

Recently God has revealed to His Church more insight on the Court of Heaven.  One criticism is, "Ah, that's just legalistic nonesense." 

I encourage you, no matter what your initial reaction, pause before judging something "nonsense".  We've all missed it.   Don't let your reasoning become your foolishness.   We all need a word from God.  If this is it, you just dismissed yours. 

If your neighbor willfully and maliciously came over and burned your house down you would be the first to cry, "Arrest him!"  You would certainly expect the court system to handle it in a fair and strong way. 

Why then do we think transgressing God's laws will require nothing from us?  "But, Grace.  What about Grace?"  I can hear you saying through this computer screen.

Yes, Grace!  Oh, what Grace!  Grace is the father pulling up and not only paying to have the neighbor's house rebuilt, they burned down, but going to jail for them. And, He did.  Jesus paid it all.  But, there is a process.  You must repent.  You must seek restitution.  Continuing to walk, live and accept sin in your life because it is difficult to overcome is not true repentance.  Jesus said, "Do whatever it takes!"  paraphrasing Matthew 5. 

Throw the computer out!
Burn the cell phone! 
Give someone your credit cards to hold!
Delete those phone numbers you shouldn't have!
Rent at cabin and fast and pray for a weekend or (gasp) a week.

Do WHAT EVER it takes!

Living a life ruled by your flesh, ruled by sin, expecting God to just "forgive and get over it" is ... I am struggling for the word ... so degrading of Jesus, His sacrifice and God's holiness.  I can only try to explain in an illustration. 

Imagine someone loves you.  They love you so completely they sell everything they have.  They work, sweat, suffer, bleed to give you a beautiful life and a beautiful home.   And, you trash it.  I mean animals, kids .. it's a mess.  They clean it up and hand you the keys again and you do it again.  You make an effort but, fail.  You make a little more effort and fail again.  You continue to make an effort ... even though you could make more of an effort.  This process continues many times. 

How many times do they have to do that for you?  Why do you expect them to keep cleaning up a mess you make?  Yes, I get we need balance.  I get that trying should be valued.  But, are they "Legalistic" for expecting you to keep it clean? 

We receive Jesus' sacrifice freely but, it wasn't free.  Carelessly demanding it compensate for your lack of concern or diligence is akin to blasphemy and shows total disregard for all Jesus did.

The teaching on the Courts of Heaven, such as Robert Henderson's and Jeanette Strauss', is a dynamic and life changing revelation (Please YouTube it).  It requires repentance.  It requires change.  It requires you do that frequently and diligently.

Some are dismissing it because they see the life of faith as a "one and done" issue.  We repent one time, for everything we will ever do, for the rest of our lives.  Well, as far as salvation is concerned, yes.  Of course. 

Our relationship with God doesn't stop when we get saved.  Our life on earth doesn't stop when we get saved.  We have a life to live.  We have an enemy seeking to devour.  That one and done thing would be great, wouldn't it?  lol  If that's true, show me one person it worked for. 

"Crickets, crickets". 

The Word, especially the New Testament, describe an overcoming life, yes, but ... a life where we "contend" for the victory.  Philippians 3:14 "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."  I Timothy 6:12 "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.". 

I can show you, and you can show me, those who have contended ...those who have fought and won "the good fight".  It seems, though, I see too many contending and not reaching it.  Fighting and not winning.  Marriages destroyed.  Children incarcerated.  Businesses bankrupt.  "... my brethren, these things ought not so to be."  James 3:10. 

A closer look at James 3:10 may give us our first clue.  "Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 

One of the key points in the Courtroom of Heaven revelation is our need to speak life and not speak curses over ourselves and others, especially those we have authority over (such as our children).  We have spiritual authority or "weight" over our children ALL our lives.  It certainly doesn't end when they turn 18, lol.  Another extremely evil teaching the church has bought into. 

I digress. lol

Maintaining our legal position in this earth means we learn the legalities of the courtroom of Heaven.  There certainly are some, as the Word of God shows us. 

Being Legalistic implies there is no room for grace and mercy.  There's always room for us at the Throneroom of Grace and Mercy. There is always room for Grace and Mercy, from God's perspective.  But, God's perspective isn't the only one. 

The Word tells us there is an "accuser of the brethren" and he is diligently looking for some reason to accuse us and gain permission through OUR words (or behavior) to destroy us. 

God is not "legalistic"(in our sense of the word) but satan certainly is.  Our warfare is with him.  Our "good fight" is against him.  Our knowledge of how to defeat him has to increase. 

The Word tells us in the last days evil will increase, II Timothy Ch 3 is one place that discusses it.  It ends with this ... "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." v16-17. 

God has given us the tools to defeat satan but we must be good students of the Word. We must be diligent and we must be unrelenting in our thirst for revelation.  Laziness is like an evil weed.  Left unattended it will choke the life out of your "fruit".

As the enemy increases ... God's help and revelation increases.  Romans 5:20.  Forty years ago those in the Word of Faith movement were harshly criticized by the "religious" and mainline denominations.  While those churches have seen dwindling members Word of Faith churches flourished, most notably, Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. 

At that time I remember so many saying, "God doesn't change!  If it was good enough for my Godly grandma, it's good enough for me."  Even though I was very young I distinctly remember thinking, "How could anybody think they knew everything about God?"  What we perceive as change is simply a deeper revelation of Him.

I for one, have been crying out for answers.  I faithfully loved my husband, my marriage failed.  I unwaveringly raised my children to serve God, they all (save one) live far below what God wants for them some even denying He exists.  I diligently seek to serve Him but my finances and personal life are far below what He would have for me.   To quote the James  " ... my brethren these things ought not so to be."

When there are only two people in the "equation" and one of them is God ... well ... God's not the problem!  It has to be me.  But, with every fiber of my being I was doing what I thought was right.  The frustration was literally killing me.

Then the precious Holy  Spirit began showing me some new revelation.  It has changed my life and my family's.   It wasn't a "once and done" revelation.  It requires diligence.  It requires work and it's not fun.  But, I am eternally grateful it's possible.  If it wasn't for Jesus, we would be stuck.  Stuck (basically) at satan's mercy.  Stuck in our sin and stuck in misery.

Pursuing the word of God.  Repenting when you miss it.  Staying diligent in the things of God is not legalistic anymore than expecting the judicial system to keep us safe.