What wife or husband among us would say that the point of marriage is the legal contract, rather than a living, breathing, life-giving union experienced each day in relationship? In as much we are the bride of Christ, it seems that some are more interested in their marriage certificate than in communion with (knowing) the One who is in us and whom we are in.
Of course, no culture is perfect, and if something is evil in a culture, we should stand against it. But a musical instrument, for example, is not bad just because historically, it was used for pagan worship. That same kind of instrument can be used to worship Jesus, and that is what is happening around the world. I love seeing the Korean fan dance used to worship King Jesus, with all its grace and colorful beauty – or to hear the powerful sound of Korean drums. I love the beauty of African worship with all its creative dance and energetic voices lifted high in praise to God. I love the beauty and harmonies of Tongan “sweet song.” I believe we are called to celebrate the beauty of the nations and their languages and cultures.
Legalism points the finger. Grace opens wide its arms and seeks to restore. Legalism loves condemnation, Grace loves restoration. “So you messed up, so did I. Come on in. We want to get around you, we want to lift you up, we want to restore you. We may get in your business and get honest with you, but we want to restore you back to fruitfulness. We don’t just want to point out your faults, we want to restore you.”
Only Christ can free us from the prison of legalism, and then only if we are willing to be freed.
We must not offer people a system of redemption, a set of insights and principles. We offer people a Redeemer.
A church has no right to make anything a condition of membership which Christ has not made a condition of salvation.
The doctrine of justification by faith (a Biblical truth, and a blessed relief from sterile legalism and unavailing self-effort) has in our times fallen into evil company and has been interpreted by many in such a manner as actually to bar men from the knowledge of God. The whole transaction of religious conversion has been made mechanical and spiritless. Faith may now be exercised without a jar to the moral life and without embarrassment to the Adamic ego. Christ may be received without creating any special love for Him in the soul of the receiver. The man is saved, but he is not hungry or thirsty after God. In fact, he is specifically taught to be satisfied and encouraged to be content with little. The modern scientist has lost God amid the wonders of His world; we Christians are in real danger of losing God amid the wonders of His Word.
Many men keep the commandments in the way sick men take medicine: more from fear of dying in damnation than for joy of living according to our Savior’s will. Just as some persons dislike taking medicine, no matter how pleasant it is, simply because it is called medicine, so there are some souls who hold in horror things commanded simply because they are commanded.
To be risen with Christ means not only that one has a choice and that one may live by a higher law–the law of grace and love–but that one *must* do so. The first obligation of the Christian is to maintain their freedom from all superstitions, all blind taboos and religious formalities, indeed from all empty forms of legalism.