Legalism? Or, Cruise Control Christianity?
When it comes to speeding tickets, I hate to admit it (although very grateful) but there have been several times that the Lord has been merciful to me! About a year ago, however, I found myself faced with a fine – a penalty I fully deserved.
Now, I will say that it was one of those crazy mornings around this household where I found myself going back and forth on the phone with my husband and our daughter. We were trying to figure out the best solution for picking up the GRANDS (halfway across the country) due to the news our daughter had just received of an expected premature delivery of our newest GRANDblessings. Meanwhile, the girls and I were getting ready to go and pick up my daughter-in-law and our newest little GRAND for his first Dr. appt. In the midst of all this, time got away from me and I found myself leaving the house late. Ughhhh! I really do not like to be late and I hated it for my daughter-in-law who was depending on me. Soooo, here I go…my foot a little too heavy on the gas. And, here it comes…a real nice-looking car with pretty, blue flashing lights. And, here he comes…a real nice police officer asking me exactly why I was going ____ miles over the speed limit.
Well now, how do you respond to a question like that? With the truth, of course. So, as I gave him the condensed version, he was very polite….but then proceeded to tell me the dangers of speeding as well as the recent traffic accidents on that very road. As our conversation came to an end and I drove off with my ticket, I was pretty upset with myself. Because I had been careless and broken the law, I now had a fine to pay – not to mention the fact that I was going to arrive at my daughter-in-law’s house even later! 🙁
It was not long after that day that I began to utilize a feature in my car. That handy little button found on my steering wheel is called CRUISE CONTROL! That’s right, folks! Cruise control was my newest friend. On those long stretches of road where it is very easy for my speed to get away with me, cruise control sure does help me keep my vehicle in subjection to those white signs with the big black numbers – like 45…55…60.
For those of you who don’t know my testimony, I was raised in a Christian home with godly parents. The Holy Spirit began convicting me when I was young and at age 8, I accepted Christ as my Saviour. In my teen years, however, I went through a time of straying from the Lord. I really didn’t care at all for the rules that my parents had in our home. Apparently, I thought I knew better than they did and my desire to live by my own rules and make my own decisions led to a season of rebellion. I say this to my shame.
It wasn’t until I was married and my husband and I became members of a little independent Baptist church that the Holy Ghost began dealing with me about my rebellious spirit. As I began to get things right with the Lord and my mom (my dad had gone to heaven), I really began to grow in my Christian walk. This growth began to open my spiritual eyes and slowly but surely, the Lord began to help me understand how utilizing “cruise control” in my Christian journey would be a blessing to me.
What does “cruise control” look like in a Christian’s life? To the world and carnal Christians (I say that from experience), “Cruise Control Christianity” looks like a bunch of white signs with big, black numbers that HINDER their journey. Why there’s even a term that many people use to identify Christians who have chosen to utilize “cruise control” in their lives. That term is “legalism”.
Now, the problem with using that term is this – a legalist is depending on their works or rules for their salvation. Of legalism, one source says it like this:
“Legalism could be defined as any attempt to rely on self-effort to either attain or maintain our justification before God.” (from Reformation Theology)
From Wikipedia:
“Legalism (or nomism), in Christian theology, is the act of putting law above gospel by establishing requirements for salvation beyond repentance and faith in Jesus Christ and reducing the broad, inclusive and general precepts of the Bible to narrow and rigid moral codes.[1] It is an over-emphasis of discipline of conduct, or legal ideas, usually implying an allegation of misguided rigour, pride, superficiality, the neglect of mercy, and ignorance of the grace of God or emphasizing the letter of law at the expense of the spirit. Legalism is alleged against any view that obedience to law, not faith in God’s grace, is the pre-eminent principle of redemption.”
Although, in the above definition, there are certain characteristics of a legalist that could be evident in a genuine, born-again believer (such as pride or neglect of mercy) we can see the main thrust of legalism is adding works to salvation instead of trusting in CHRIST ALONE to save you. Sadly, many have been deceived into this way of thinking.
[A side note here – Just in case there is one reading this right now who has been DECEIVED into believing a FALSE teaching that denies CHRIST’S shed blood as the ONLY way of salvation, my friend…Ephesians 2:8,9 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Won’t you please let go of that false assurance that is leading you to eternal damnation and turn to Jesus? Put your complete trust in HIM and the Gospel of His death, burial, and resurrection to save you from your sins!]
Back to “cruise control”…
Last year, when I decided to begin using the cruise control feature in my car, I did not suddenly begin to depend on that little button to make me a driver. No, I was already a driver. I had been driving for well over 30 years. However, I did believe that by implementing the cruise control feature while driving, I would save myself from future tickets and possibly vehicle accidents. By using cruise control, I may even protect myself as well as my family from harm. And you know what? I found out a benefit of using cruise control – I didn’t have to WORRY about exceeding the speed limit. Yes, cruise control is my friend. It has made my driving on those long stretches less worrisome and therefore more enjoyable!
So, what could “cruise control” look like in a believer’s life?
In their CONDUCT:
It could mean striving to avoid even the appearance of evil.
“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” I Thessalonians 5:22
More specifically, it could be refusing to go certain places, do certain things, behave in certain ways to avoid being tempted themselves, or being a stumbling block to their own children or other believers – especially new believers.
“But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak. But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.” I Corinthians 8:9,12,13
In their CONVERSATION:
It could mean striving to speak in a way that would be pleasing to the Lord.
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14
More specifically, it could be striving to guard their tongue against gossip, malice, swearing, lying, etc.
“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:31,32
In their CLOTHING:
It could be striving to dress in a way that would not encourage temptation.
“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Matthew 5:28
More specifically, it could be striving to dress modestly and distinctively according to their God-given gender without drawing attention to one’s body.
“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” I Timothy 2:9,10
In their COMPANIONS:
It could be striving to choose their close friends wisely.
“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” Proverbs 13:20
More specifically, it could mean striving to have close fellowship with those who will encourage them in their walk with the Lord as well as their relationships with their family.
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17
There are other areas in which we could implement “cruise control” in our Christian life but the bottom line, “Cruise Control Christianity” is simply placing boundaries in our lives that will help us stay in subjection to God’s Word.
A couple of closing thoughts…
If you are unsaved or even saved but living a defeated life by staying as close to the world as possible, I can understand how a Christian who has decided to push the cruise-control button in their life may appear to YOU to have really lost their minds. It’s ok. We’re not in bondage. We’re not doing it for our salvation. We have simply set up some safety boundaries in our lives with prayers of preventing a spiritual “ticket” or “wreck” – just as you would push that cruise control in your vehicle in hopes of preventing a physical ticket or wreck. Tickets cost and wrecks often leave scars. Very, very often, the cost and scars of living a Christian life without “cruise control” are not fully realized until many, many miles down the road. We desire to avoid as much of this as possible.
Are you a Christian who continually struggles with living a victorious Christian life? May I suggest “cruise control”? Today, begin implementing the cruise control button in all areas of your life. Purpose in your heart to set up boundaries to avoid the temptation that will ultimately bring high cost, scars…even spiritual death. And then, as you continue to grow in the Lord, continue to push the cruise button by placing boundaries in areas that the Holy Spirit brings to your attention. I’ve said it before – boundaries are NOT bondage. Sin is bondage. Boundaries make the Christian journey less worrisome and therefore more enjoyable. Boundaries are a BULWARK from the bondage of sin!
“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:13-15
“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans 8:6