Biblical Proportionalism Concerning Legalism and Judgmentalism

By Curt Wildy

I aim to make this my last post of this nature for a while… but the topic has been laid heavily on my mind over the last several weeks (and especially in the last few days) and I want to get this final one out. Right doctrine does not consist of appealing, convicting words alone; the words must be grounded in scripture. Sometimes words have such an intrinsically powerful appeal that you think that they must be right by the nature of how they were spoken. However, this is often not so. Such is the case with discussions about judgmentalism/legalism, an issue that I have struggled with on many fronts (both internally and externally).

When I see writings against such things, my tendency is to ask “Lord, is it I.” I do this because I know that by nature my cognitive orientation is such that I automatically identify problems, holes, inconsistencies, and inefficiencies; however, I do so not for the sake of it, i.e. to be judgmental, but with an eye to fill in the gaps, to address the problems (this is common ‘intuitive thinker’ (Ti) cognitive behaviour). Though this allows me to be highly efficient at work, it can come across as being somewhat anti-social at best and legalistic at worst (especially to those who either do not know me well or who have a more libertine sense of “Christian liberty”). Nonetheless, I believe that God uses our God-ordained personalities as He uses us to accomplish His will. As a result, some will be better exhorters, others better comforters, others better teachers, others better preachers, others better leaders, but all fulfilling the function God has ordained for them within the body of Christ. Thus, a Peter is not a John, who is not a Paul, who is not a Sampson, who is not an Elijah, who is not a Lot…etc.

But what of this issue of judmentalism and legalism? True legalism is judging someone either saved or lost (regenerate or unregenerate) based upon Old Testament law, human traditions, or human error. It also consists of judging others to be inferior to you (as Christians) based upon your personal standards. One is not a legalist for eschewing and speaking out against the ills found in the professing church today. No, rather than being a legalist, such a one seeks simply to build up the church unto maturity as he desires to mature himself. He desires to be encouraged as he encourages; admonished as he admonishes; exhorted as he exhorts; and so on… all for the express purpose of better understanding and serving the Lord and one another. But what is our guide for judging others as being too judgmental? There is this notion that if you speak out against the errors that encompass you, to too large a degree, your faith is somehow suspect. I thought much about this the last few days and something really hit home recently… The Bible is our standard for such things! The degree and proportion to which the Bible speaks against error, and warns the brethren concerning it, should be the degree and proportion for our doing so. Not striving to lord over others; nor to condemn others; nor to be oppressive as we behold motes whilst ignoring personal beams, but always seeking to point others to Christ first and foremost, to our liberty in Christ (yes, indeed), but also on to maturity, sobriety, and gravity. The Bible alone must be our standard and not excellency in prose.

To those who frequently judge others as being too judgmental — have you skimmed through your Bible? Have you noticed, especially in the New Testament, how often you find truth distinguished from error, error condemned, warnings against error, exhortations to cling to the Truth in light of error, calls for maturity and sobriety to resist error, and so forth. Can you go from Matthew to Revelation and not see how much “negativity” (so-called) there is in comparison to “positivity” (so-called). So much of the New Testament consists of addressing false notions, error, and heresy. We must understand that it is not “negative” to warn against using liberty as a cloak of lasciviousness and maliciousness. It is not “negative” to protect the sheep from those who would seek to lead them astray (into this heresy or that). In fact, true, religious “negativity” is embracing grievous error and those who hold to it; it is promoting lewdness and vulgarity in the guise of Christian liberty; it is railings against God-ordained secular leaders; it is standing by silently (most unlike the apostles and godly men of old) whilst hereticks spread forth their error amongst the sheep; it is taking little or no regard for the “weaker brethren” in the words you use or the images you display. One could go on and on but the point is not to spell out every problem but to cause others, by God’s grace, to step back and take a more objective look at things.

In various online settings, one can read scores of messages regarding Christ as our Sanctification, Christ as our Righteousness, our Liberty in Christ, our freedom from the moral law as our rule of life (all of which are good, right, and true doctrines); however, in light of the high number of such messages, one can be hard-pressed to find messages exhorting the reader to avoid grievous error (like Calminianism, Amyraldianism, etc.); to biblically reject those who bring it; or to adorn the doctrine of Christ as it pertains to our character and conduct (the two dreaded “c” words in many circles). I ask you, in light of all the pages between Matthew 1 and Revelation 22 — is this in keeping with the proportion found in Scripture? I do not think so but make no judgments concerning it other than to say “step back” before you too hastily judge those whom you deem too judgmental. It may be that they are bringing something you, or others, really need to hear; something that is disproportionally represented (but nonetheless needful) in the midst of the plethora of messages that go forth. So it is not the frequency that should be of primary concern (though if that is all one ever posts or writes about over the years, maybe something is to be said); it is not the frequency but the nature. If one is spiteful; hateful; making personal ad hominems; and really trying to crush the spirit or “esteem” of another, then there is a very real problem. But if one avoids such ill behaviour, or strives to do so (none are perfect), then it is best not to “count posts” to try to determine if their religion is real or false.

With that being said, once again, I leave this admonition from Titus 2:1-7

“But SPEAK THOU THE THINGS THAT BECOME SOUND DOCTRINE: 2 That the aged men be SOBER, GRAVE, TEMPERATE, SOUND IN FAITH, IN CHARITY, IN PATIENCE. 3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour AS BECOMETH HOLINESS, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. 7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.”

To God be the glory, in Christ!