Overcome Your Overwhelm – Legalism

Have you ever noticed that life can be overwhelming? On top of our day to day demands, we are now facing an international pandemic. If we are not careful, the overwhelm can overtake our lives. It will begin to direct our steps and re-write our stories. 

But God has a different way. A better way. The way of peace, life, and joy. In the process of writing Finding Simplicity, I have given a lot of thought to this subject. Is a simpler life possible? Can we overcome our overwhelm?

Like myself, you probably know the answer is yes. But another question may come to mind. A much more difficult question – how? 

While I certainly don’t have all the answers, over the next few weeks, we are going to tackle this topic together by looking at a few of the enemies of simplicity. What are the things that creep into our lives, steal our joy, and trigger overwhelm? What unhealthy patterns are we allowing to take root and set us on the path of chaos and confusion?

Overwhelm Trigger #1: Legalism – I have to be perfect

Overwhelm Trigger #2: Clutter – I need more

Overwhelm Trigger #3: Impulse – I should do whatever I feel like

Overwhelm Trigger #4: Speech – I can say what I want when I want

Overwhelm Trigger #5: Judgment – My way is right

Overwhelm Trigger #6: Indecision – I need all the information 

Let’s start by considering the dangers of legalism. Maybe like myself, when you hear this term, you may think about the religious leaders in the Bible. Over time I have come to not only appreciate how distinct Jesus’ interaction with God was from these religious leaders, but I have also realized how I fall in line with them more often than I would like to think. 

Like these ultra-religious people, I often get confused in my approach to God and begin to measure my spirituality based on how good I am. Legalism is a dangerous trap that engages us in a constant cycle of comparison and work. Instead of spending time in God’s presence, we are focused on checking all the boxes and on making sure we are doing better than everyone else. This self-righteous thinking not only distances us from God, but it will also distance us from other people. 

When we engage in legalism, we open ourselves up to an endless pursuit of perfection. We have made our achievement and goodness the end game and set ourselves up for failure. It doesn’t matter how hard we work; we will always fall short of the standard of perfection. We will find ourselves battling both insecurity and pride – knowing we are not good enough while striving to put on a strong front that displays to everyone around us that we are just that. 

So how do we combat legalism? Let me share a brief excerpt from my book that relates to this discussion:

“Jesus’ approach to God and life stood in striking contrast to that of His contemporaries. The religious people of Jesus’ day had made following God extremely complicated. The God they were worshiping was hard to reach, difficult to understand, and tough to please. 

Jesus was altogether different. When He talked about God, He made sense. He didn’t speak in complex thoughts and sentences but in plain words with relatable stories, using simple illustrations anyone could understand. Most important, Jesus taught not only that man could know God but also that God could change any person’s life.” 

God is inviting you and me into relationship. He wants us to know Him, not to impress Him. 

I am reminded of a story Jesus told in Luke 18. Luke describes the audience Jesus was speaking to as “people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt.” (Luke 18:9 NASB) Here Jesus is speaking directly to those of us who fall into the trap of legalism. He describes a scene where two men enter God’s temple to pray. One was a prominent religious leader and one a despised tax collector. One was presumed to be close to God and the other far, far away. 

The religious leader’s prayer is more of a boasting session – thank you that I am not a sinner, I fast, I give away money, etc. On the other hand, the tax collector lifts his eyes to heaven and begs for God’s mercy. Only one walked away from this prayer time right before God, and that was the “sinful” tax collector. Jesus explained, “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14) 

Like those listening to Jesus’ original story, we have an invitation. An invitation to the way of Jesus. A call to know God. An opportunity to find forgiveness and redemption. 

Listen to the comforting words of Psalm 103, “Just as a father has compassion on His children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.” (Psalm 103:13-14) 

God already knows you don’t have it all together. He knows your weakness, and He is not expecting perfection. 

He is the Good One. He is the Perfect One. He is the One who holds all things together. 

Have you fallen into the trap of legalism? Are you running and rushing in a religious frenzy but missing God? 

Today, look at the example of this tax collector and lift your eyes to God. 

Enter His presence. Humble yourself. 

Allow Him to change you.