Legalism defines a certain behavior where dependence on moral law is more important than personal faith. Sadly, this behavior is seen readily in most Christian communities, reminiscent of the Pharisees in biblical times. In the Gospel of John, the apostle wrote of Jesus, stating: “If you love me, you will obey me (John 14:15). There are those who exegete this verse to mean strict adherence to moral law. Certainly, the moral law must be followed by any Christian who has been saved through faith in Jesus, the Christ, alone. Yet, the new covenant, that is Jesus, concerns itself with love: “37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40). Exegetically, I interpret this to mean that the moral law or the Ten Commandments, are categorized into two parts: love of God and love of neighbor. The problem I have is in the communication of these two commandments by believers and how they believe the two commandments fit into everyday Christian life. Certain factions or sects of Christianity place additional restrictions on who should be “allowed” into their particular “sphere” of Christianity and who should not. For example, there are those who discredit those who do or do not speak in tongues in order to be accepted or rejected into their particular “sphere” of Christianity. Others believe one must be baptized to be saved. Still others believe in full immersion for baptism versus infant baptism. And, if one had debates about Roman Catholicism and its particular practices, this reflection would be much longer than it should be. Moreover, certain Christians pay particular attention to physical norms. Does he or she have tattoos? Is the dress too short? What about jeans or shorts? Hairstyles? Whatever. There seems to be a certain “puritanical look” that one tries to achieve to give the impression of piety. Strangely enough, Jesus sat and ate with prostitutes and tax collectors (Matthew 9:10-17). The modern day dregs of society are not so welcomed in modern day churches.
There are many sects of Protestantism, all which have certain rules and regulations, in order to become a member of their church. There are non-denominational churches but are these friendly towards the LGBTQ community. Ever increasingly so, churches are segregated. There are predominantly black churches and predominantly white churches where fewer churches are integrated in ethnic diversity. This is not to imply that, as a Christian, I condone same-sex marriage, agree with the practices of LGBTQ community. I have core beliefs in the tenets and doctrines of the true Christian faith. That is not the issue at hand. My concern is tolerance and acceptance as human beings in the profession of love for all humankind, not in the celebration of practices which are contrary to doctrinal Christian beliefs. One can love his/her neighbor despite who or what that neighbor practices or looks like. This is where the legalism part of Christianity comes into vogue. Certain “virtues” are accepted and defended more than others. Why is that? Didn’t God state: “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment” (John 7:24), and ““Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). Of course, if one frequents a particular church, that intolerance cannot be true of “our” church, only other churches. I have found that to be the case in most, of not all churches. I refer the reader to the chastisement by Jesus on 5 of the seven churches He addressed in the book of Revelation by the Apostle John.
Welcoming all people in the spirit of love is a commandment which was given to us by our Lord and Savior, Jesus. I look at myself. Do I fit the classic description of a traditional Christian who came to know Christ at a young age? I do not. God bestowed grace upon me quite miraculously at age 55. Previously, I was an atheist and detested all forms of religion. If you truly interested in my testimony, you can see it on my website: danieledegirolami.com. My body is full of tattoos. The conditions or the appearances of the classic Christian are not part of my norm. Where do I belong? It’s strange. I am presently very happily married. I have a Master’s Degree in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. I am a faithful member and elder of River Valley Christian Fellowship Church. Most importantly, I have a very close and personal relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus, the Christ. Above all, this relationship is the way I live both at home and in my practice of cardiology where I proclaim Christ to all who would listen and even those that would not. Presently, my “community” has been increasingly confined. I’ve realized that loving Jesus is a full time job, almost like breathing. I have found little time in negativism, particularly from “fellow” Christians who are on the “in” crowd. This is not new from a human perspective. People tend to be drawn to “like kinds.” That kind of thinking rarely interests me. From my vantage point, our commission encompasses a command by Jesus to go and make disciples. Now, no human will convert another. That is the sole purview of God. We are to plant seeds by abiding in Christ, giving our testimony, and so forth. But, where do I belong? I think I belong with Christ. My wife and I are one flesh in Christ. The community becomes smaller and smaller as the judgment becomes bigger and bigger and the traditional norms of “Christian living” simply do not comport with the norms of Jesus as “Christian loving”, which my wife and I have concentrated on.
This “waiting room” that God places each and every Christian at one point in their life or another, is a place for reflection. We wait for God to increase our capacity to draw us closer to Him by glorifying him on a minute by minute basis. This is where true Christianity begins and the traditional, normative Christianity ends. It’s not about Jesus plus x. It’s just about Jesus. I have come late to the to the vineyard, but I got the same denarius (Matthew 20:1-16). Not my choice! It was God who elected me, the Holy Spirit who “quickened” or regenerated me (born again), repentance, faith in Jesus (which God gave me), salvation, justification, and sanctification with the ultimate aim of glorification, once I die. So, in reflection, I think that having a personal relationship with Jesus is decidedly and convincingly much more important than any human normative pattern one needs to be conformed to. That’s Who I belong to, not where I belong.