There are two words you would least likely expect to see or to hear used in the same breath. Those two words would be Charismatic legalism. It came to mind about a year ago when I was thinking about some of the things I was once taught over the years in a Charismatic church, things which were viewed as freedom but were really creating shackles. Few words tend to make a believer in Christ bristle more than the word legalism. It is not an endearing term one wishes to hear in describing themselves nor is it said as a compliment. When one thinks of this word, the image of a Pharisee may come to mind, an individual who is steeped in tradition and who believes that good works and adhering to the requirements of the law set by God will merit them righteousness and even salvation. There is no way that being legalistic or even a Pharisee could possibly be considered in the same breath with being Charismatic, right?

As someone who was once part of a more hyper Charismatic movement, I can assure you being labeled a legalist or as having a religious spirit is not endearing. Far from it. In fact, being labeled as such could potentially deem you as being “void of the Spirit” or even lacking a personal relationship with God. In other words, you would be a white washed tomb with a dead man’s bones. There seems to be a belief that legalism is not possible as a Charismatic Christian because of the seeming freedom given to the Holy Spirit and the false implication that Charismatics are the elite Spirit filled believers. It is an interesting statement regarding freedom since it implies the Third Person of the Trinity needs freeing and that we are the ones who give Him permission to have such freedom. These are the things I ponder on at times, bringing me out of arrogance and into repentance for having had such a mindset. I would humbly present that legalism is present in these movements, and I say this lovingly so that true freedom in Christ can come rather than depending upon oral traditions and works based righteousness leading away from Jesus Christ.

Show Me the Legalism

By now, you may be wondering what I am talking about when I say Charismatic legalism. First, we need to understand the definition of legalism. Merriam Webster defines legalism as “a strict, literal, or excessive conformity to the law or to a religious or moral code.” Though this very term is not found in Scripture, we can see traces of it in action when looking at those like the Pharisees. An example can be found in Luke 18 with the Pharisee and the tax collector. What I find interesting is that verse 9 says Jesus told this parable to those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt. The Pharisee focused on his good works in prayer to the Lord and left unjustified while the tax collector left justified because he acknowledged his sin before God and repented, placing his trust in God rather than his own works. The Pharisees were also known for not only holding to the law but to oral traditions, placing increasing burdens on the people not authored by God.

Now what I am about to say will certainly be controversial, but do you see it? Do you see the oral traditions and the religious code, the trust in self and the contempt that has been adopted by those in the Charismatic church who would tell individuals such things as, “Your healing is based on your giving and your faith. If you do not give enough or have enough faith to be healed/delivered, then you will not see breakthrough.” There are teachings that if you do not pray in tongues then you are not Spirit filled or even saved in some churches. Some leaders have hindered critical thinking and questioning by teaching if you touch God’s anointed then calamity will come upon you in the form of sickness and suffering while negating their own teaching that God does not allow for sickness and suffering.

Some will say that If you do not praise and worship exuberantly in a corporate gathering, lifting your hands, dancing, shouting, jumping, and any other manifestation then you are spiritually dead and dry, almost as if your emotional reaction to a song and the atmosphere created demonstrates your ascension spiritually with God. Some may say that if you do not work miracle, signs, and wonders then you have no power and are not saved while ignoring Paul’s very words, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16) The Word reminds us that the gospel is not miracles, signs, and wonders nor is it our personal testimony. The gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

For those in these movements struggling with the trials of life with little to no understanding of sin and sanctification as a Christian (and I humbly say that because I was Biblically illiterate in this movement and misguided while misguiding others along the way), rather than being guided back to Scripture for instruction and counsel, they will be told to seek out deliverance from a demon or that they are to have inner healing performed so that they can break the generational curses in their family. There is now additional burden placed upon the individual to do something to attain freedom, or at least perceived freedom. This is being told to professing followers of Jesus Christ, those who profess to be born again, those who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit at the time of salvation and who should be taking comfort in Galatians 3:13, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.” The day I read this passage, I renounced the belief of any generational curse because Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient. If it was not, then the god I believed in was not the God of the Bible. And I believe in the God of the Bible because His Word testifies of the One who is the Word.

Do you see the legalism? I hope you hear my heart when I say this. Charismatic legalism is a thing, and it is creating more bondage than freedom. I liken it to jumping through hoops. Here are the hoops: if I just prayed in tongues more, if I raised my hands, shouted louder and jumped higher, if I rebuked the devil more, if I watched the power of my words, if I had another person lay hands on me then I could get free, if I did more for the Kingdom, if I prophesied more powerfully, if I went through that fire tunnel one more time then…fill in the blank to whatever thought any one of us in these movements have had. Where is Christ in all of this? It is works based and self centered rather than trusting in the finished work of Christ Jesus on the cross for our sins and for us to have His righteousness imputed to us. Forgive me but for all the talk of desiring relationship over religion, there is a disconnect. Legalism is exhausting because there is no rest in the peace of God and truly enjoying Him, regardless of times in the valley or times on the mountain top. The gospel is lost in all of this. There is no good news when your works depend upon your work in having victory.

I want to leave you with hope, and this hope can only be found in Jesus Christ and His work, not our own (Ephesians 2:8-9). He died on the cross for our sins, and his ministry is one of reconciliation to the Father so that we can become children of God. He gives us the promise of eternal life. This is the abundant life. There is no promise of life without struggle and suffering. We will all endure things that are difficult in this world, but Jesus has encouraged us by telling us that He has overcome the world. He has sent the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity to testify of Him through us and to help us in being conformed into the image of Christ. He guides us into all truth. The yoke that Jesus gives us is easy and His burden is light because He has not forsaken those who belong to Him, and thank God, He is the great High Priest ever interceding for us. Legalism is not the way. He is the way, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. I lovingly urge you to run from Charismatic legalism.