Raised in Church, Not in God

Legalistic systems are incredibly prevalent in the church, to the point where many of us do not even know what legalism is, and we often fail to recognize it in our own lives. Legalism is to follow the letter of the law but to be devoid of the Spirit of God. Before you write this article off as not applying to you, consider that the Spirit of God is inviting His church at large to weigh the reality of our dedication to traditions of man.

There is a thin line between following those before us and operating by standards that are man made. In Mark 7/Matthew 15, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees. The disciples did not wash their hands prior to eating like the elders before them enacted. The Pharisees spoke to Jesus and asked why His disciples do not follow the tradition of the elders.

Jesus responds, 'For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men —the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandments of God, that you may keep your tradition.” Mark 7:8-9

"He answered and said to them, 'Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?'" Matthew 15:3

Jesus is highlighting the heart of the Pharisees once again— that their actions are tainted by their motives. The expectation to follow the traditions of men did not allow for the commandments of God to be kept. Jesus is confronting the legalism. Throughout Jesus’ time in His mortal body, He continuously confronted the heart of why the religious operates the way they do. He comes to the heart of the matter, especially in Matthew 23, when He declares the religious leaders to be “white washed tombs”, beautiful on the outside but filthy on the inside.

Often in Christian circles, we read these scriptures and think, "wow look how He confronted those who are religious", overlooking the fact that He is still confronting that legalism in us. How often do we operate according to the modern church ways and not according what He is doing, His way?

Our traditions vary from circle to circle. For example, many have the expectation of things like a night vigil during a cross over service on New Year’s Eve. But why is that tradition more comfortable than being still before the Lord? Why are we comfortable showing up to church and singing a song, but we don’t lift a sound at home? Why are we comfortable hollering in church in front of others but not crying out to the Lord about our hearts in private where our own family resides?

When we lack intimacy we often cover it with tradition.

The legalistic systems that have wrapped their tentacles around the church have led many to excuse themselves from knowing Him because they know traditions. More and more I’m noticing that much of my generation knows church, but we don’t know God. And the worst part is we know the false church.

We hoot and we holler. We shout “amens!” and “hallelujahs!” We have deep theological conversations. Attend the Bible studies. It’s all engrained in how we function, and it becomes words and actions void of weight and authenticity. The traditions that have come before us are important to glean from, however we cannot use them to reinforce our rigidity to the Spirit of God.

For example: some of us, the belaboring of those before us telling us to go to church was indeed correct. We should go and not forsake the gathering together of the brethren. But many who emphasized “go to church!”, did not show us how to be the church. It’s easier to go to a building than to become the living stone yourself.

Following the commandments of men is not necessarily incorrect. For instance, in 2 Thessalonians 3:4-9, Paul tells the church in Thessalonica to follow the traditions they’ve been taught. However, Paul says in Colossians 2 that no one should cheat us according to the traditions of men. What does he mean? He means the same thing Jesus did.

What is the heart behind it? We follow a God whose Word says that He delights in a broken heart and contrite spirit. This has nothing to do with traditions. You cannot out tradition God to gain His good graces. He wants the hidden places we refuse to go. He wants to break our legalistic mindset of who we’ve known Him to be. Scripture says over and over how dangerous it is to follow human commandments that do not align with the Word of God (see more verses at end of article).

These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Colossians 2:22-23

Legalism is how and why many people have gone to church for decades and still don't embody Christ in their character. Legalism is how and why people have served in high places in church but do not know Jesus.

They’re following the system. They’re following the traditions of men. It leads us into false prophetic visions and dreams. It leads us into thinking we know something we do not know. And it leads to self-deception, bypassing lessons that were meant for us. And that’s okay if we are willing to humble ourselves to see clearly. The season of being a white washed tomb has surely come to an end across the body. God is not concerned with how many songs we sing, how many prayer points we hit and how pleased man is.

Do we know Him? Did we show up to church on time because we honor Him or we wanted a particular seat? Did we serve by cleaning up because we want to serve like Him, or earn our way to the next level? Did we lend a hand to someone so they can meet the One who saved you, or to feel good about "serving"? Did we pray with vigor on a night watch because we're expected to or because He ignited passion in the secret place? Why do we only feel comfortable in worship with other people?

Have we dipped into performance to hide the insecurity of our relationship with Him?

These systems that have been created are often the hinderance to our growth and connection to God. It has attempted to place God who is un-boxable into one. We don’t need to come to God presenting ourselves in a certain way. We just need to shut the door, bear our soul, listen, and be with Him. We need to stay when it’s awkward. We need to push past what we’re feeling. If we are going to be His bride, we must be a people of intimacy. We must be a people who seek to know Jesus without being told or coaxed into it. We can’t fake intimacy. We can’t fake getting in the presence of God. We cannot fake our relationship with Him.

Let it be that what is different about all of us is that we cultivate a relationship with Him rather than a relationship with the commandments of men.

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

1 Peter 1:18-19

This saying is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the merely human commands of those who reject the truth.

Titus 1:13-14

I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

Galatians 1:14

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

Colossians 2:8

The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught."

Isaiah 29:13

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord."

Jeremiah 23:16

Ephraim is oppressed, trampled in judgment, intent on pursuing idols.

Hosea 5:11

He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

2 Corinthians 3:6

...and even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced.

2 Kings 17:19

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord." Jeremiah 23:16

Ephraim is oppressed, trampled in judgment, intent on pursuing idols.

Hosea 5:11

He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

2 Corinthians 3:6

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.

1 Timothy 4:1-3