Major misconception: What is legalism and what's not legalism.

[Biblelogic01]

Ok so there is a BIG misconception out there about what legalism is.

Definition: "Overly strict or rigid adherence to the law or to a religious or moral code"

Now look at this definition (I'm going to just use part of the definition). Overly strict.

The story I'm going to base the topic off is from Luke 6
Now along with this you can't just read it and go,"Ok, that's that."
You would need to understand that the Pharisees were making the Law "Overly strict", they were adding to it (which is hypocricy, but noone is going to tell their religious leader they're a hypocrit). To the Pharisees, on Sabbath you were no basically suppose to stay indoors besides going to synagouge and you could not do anything else and they were extremely strict on this. So again this is why the Pharisees question Yeshua on what He is doing and try to find fault in Him.


NKJV Luke 6:1-11
Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the first[SUP][a][/SUP] that He went through the grainfields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands. [SUP]2 [/SUP]And some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” [SUP]3 [/SUP]But Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read this, what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: [SUP]4 [/SUP]how he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?” [SUP]5 [/SUP]And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”
[SUP]
6 [/SUP]Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered. [SUP]7 [/SUP]So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him. [SUP]8 [/SUP]But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Arise and stand here.” And he arose and stood. [SUP]9 [/SUP]Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?”[SUP][b][/SUP] [SUP]10 [/SUP]And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man,[SUP][c][/SUP] “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.[SUP][d][/SUP] [SUP]11 [/SUP]But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

We see here that in the first story Yeshua is teaching that it is not wrong to go get some food for the belly on Sabbath, if you're hungry than eat.
Now in legalism, your food should already be prepared and if not you out of luck and can't eat. Yeshua is teaching against this type of legalism.

The second story the Pharisees again with their legalistic view of how Sabbath should be observed they wanted to try and trap Yeshua. Yeshua sees this clearly. So Yeshua showed that healing on Sabbath is not work, it is not evil, it is doing good.

So in this case, there is nothing "legalistic" about observing the Sabbath on it's appointed day. But it is "legalistic" to add or take away from it.

This is how I would correctly inturpret the term "legalistic".

Again this is just an example of what legalism is. Following Torah is not legalism, adding and take away from it is legalism which is what I believe Yeshua and Paul were teaching against when it comes to legalism.

 

[Nautilus]

Ok so there is a BIG misconception out there about what legalism is.

Definition: "Overly strict or rigid adherence to the law or to a religious or moral code"

Now look at this definition (I'm going to just use part of the definition). Overly strict.

The story I'm going to base the topic off is from Luke 6
Now along with this you can't just read it and go,"Ok, that's that."
You would need to understand that the Pharisees were making the Law "Overly strict", they were adding to it (which is hypocricy, but noone is going to tell their religious leader they're a hypocrit). To the Pharisees, on Sabbath you were no basically suppose to stay indoors besides going to synagouge and you could not do anything else and they were extremely strict on this. So again this is why the Pharisees question Yeshua on what He is doing and try to find fault in Him.


NKJV Luke 6:1-11
Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the first[SUP][a][/SUP] that He went through the grainfields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands. [SUP]2 [/SUP]And some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” [SUP]3 [/SUP]But Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read this, what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: [SUP]4 [/SUP]how he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?” [SUP]5 [/SUP]And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”
[SUP]
6 [/SUP]Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered. [SUP]7 [/SUP]So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him. [SUP]8 [/SUP]But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Arise and stand here.” And he arose and stood. [SUP]9 [/SUP]Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?”[SUP][b][/SUP] [SUP]10 [/SUP]And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man,[SUP][c][/SUP] “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.[SUP][d][/SUP] [SUP]11 [/SUP]But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

We see here that in the first story Yeshua is teaching that it is not wrong to go get some food for the belly on Sabbath, if you're hungry than eat.
Now in legalism, your food should already be prepared and if not you out of luck and can't eat. Yeshua is teaching against this type of legalism.

The second story the Pharisees again with their legalistic view of how Sabbath should be observed they wanted to try and trap Yeshua. Yeshua sees this clearly. So Yeshua showed that healing on Sabbath is not work, it is not evil, it is doing good.

So in this case, there is nothing "legalistic" about observing the Sabbath on it's appointed day. But it is "legalistic" to add or take away from it.

This is how I would correctly inturpret the term "legalistic".

Again this is just an example of what legalism is. Following Torah is not legalism, adding and take away from it is legalism which is what I believe Yeshua and Paul were teaching against when it comes to legalism.

I doubt anyone here would say following torah in and of itself is legalistic. But when you start chastising others who don't agree and saying their faith or salvation is less than yours, then it becomes legalism.

 

[wattie]

I believe legalism is when people are following religious observerances, the law, commandments etc.. without any grace.. no love.

So they are on a mouse wheel. They HAVE to keep to them or they are condemned.

People can only follow the ten commandments.. when they have been saved eternally by Jesus..when they are loved unconditionally.

Following the law.. commandments.. without conversion is like trying to spray perfume on a dead corpse. This is what the Pharisees and Scribes were kind of doing. Doing the acts.. works.. but their souls were not saved.

Legalism is when the works themselves are believed to be what is giving the righteousness.. and not Jesus.

Saved christians can get caught up in this..when they start doing programs in church without actually praying to see if it is what God wants them to do in the first place.

'Gotta do this.. gotta do that.. ' without thinking.. hang on.. 'where is the Holy Spirit's guidance in this?'

Like counting the number of people who get saved from outreaches. Do you actually know for sure these people got saved? That is up to God.

Or saying-- we have 600 people coming to our church.. isn't that great!

Is your church actually preaching from the Word.. are the congregation getting fed? Or is this 600 mostly immature christians?

 

[Biblelogic01]

Ok, and I'm not saying you do this, but when someone brings up following Torah in a lot of discussions almost every time immediately the Torah follower is accused of being legalistic. That's more of the reason behind my post.

 

[Biblelogic01]

Ok so both of you understand legalism the way I do. The post is more for people who have a wrong idea of legalism.

 

[resurrection33]

I think we get into legalism when we start adding rules to the commandments that the Lord already gave us.

 

[MarcR]

Ok so there is a BIG misconception out there about what legalism is.

Definition: "Overly strict or rigid adherence to the law or to a religious or moral code"

Now look at this definition (I'm going to just use part of the definition). Overly strict.

The story I'm going to base the topic off is from Luke 6
Now along with this you can't just read it and go,"Ok, that's that."
You would need to understand that the Pharisees were making the Law "Overly strict", they were adding to it (which is hypocricy, but noone is going to tell their religious leader they're a hypocrit). To the Pharisees, on Sabbath you were no basically suppose to stay indoors besides going to synagouge and you could not do anything else and they were extremely strict on this. So again this is why the Pharisees question Yeshua on what He is doing and try to find fault in Him.


NKJV Luke 6:1-11
Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the first[SUP][a][/SUP] that He went through the grainfields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands. [SUP]2 [/SUP]And some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” [SUP]3 [/SUP]But Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read this, what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: [SUP]4 [/SUP]how he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?” [SUP]5 [/SUP]And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”
[SUP]
6 [/SUP]Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered. [SUP]7 [/SUP]So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him. [SUP]8 [/SUP]But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Arise and stand here.” And he arose and stood. [SUP]9 [/SUP]Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?”[SUP][b][/SUP] [SUP]10 [/SUP]And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man,[SUP][c][/SUP] “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.[SUP][d][/SUP] [SUP]11 [/SUP]But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

We see here that in the first story Yeshua is teaching that it is not wrong to go get some food for the belly on Sabbath, if you're hungry than eat.
Now in legalism, your food should already be prepared and if not you out of luck and can't eat. Yeshua is teaching against this type of legalism.

The second story the Pharisees again with their legalistic view of how Sabbath should be observed they wanted to try and trap Yeshua. Yeshua sees this clearly. So Yeshua showed that healing on Sabbath is not work, it is not evil, it is doing good.

So in this case, there is nothing "legalistic" about observing the Sabbath on it's appointed day. But it is "legalistic" to add or take away from it.

This is how I would correctly inturpret the term "legalistic".

Again this is just an example of what legalism is. Following Torah is not legalism, adding and take away from it is legalism which is what I believe Yeshua and Paul were teaching against when it comes to legalism.

Legalism can be defined in many ways depending on one's perspective. The same is true of more than 50% of the dictionary. As relates to posting on the forum, I define legalism as:

1) Trying to impose one's convictions on others.

2) Teaching that the Law or elements thereof contributes to Salvation, or is essential to one's Christian walk

my definition is well within the range of 21st century Christian lexical scholarship.

 

[Joshua_Generation]

Modern day Legalism to me is rules interpreted from the Bible that force a person to make an outward change, that is supposed to line up with the inward change.

God told the Prophet Samuel that he look's at the heart or the inward spirit of a man.

Not the way they dress, how long their hair is, what they eat and if a women wear jeans or not.

And a whole lot more things than those above.

 

[Willie-T]

I don't want to be legalistic, but a guy who claims a Jewish heritage and who legalistically drops the "o" out of God while fully spelling out other names for God, really needs to learn how synagogue is spelled. LOL

 

[MyLighthouse]

Legalism today is, anything someone doesn't want to do that's in Bible.

So if your serving the Lord and happen to obey His Word you are legalistic to most people. Even though you are not obeying to reach heaven you are obeying because you love the Lord and want to. They don't see that and that don't matter any ways, you keep obeying the Lord and loving Him.

 

[Willie-T]

I think many of you might be missing something important. It is NOT whether or not you do this or that, it is that many people just seem to have to let other people know they think they should be doing it (whatever) also, or they are not obeying the Lord.... and may not "really" be Christians (like THEM) And, trust me, most make REAL sure they get that last part across as pointedly as they possible can.

Hey, if you do "whatever"... FINE. Just do it, and keep your trap shut about how others should be doing likewise.

Why do so many people seem to be unable to do that?

 

[eternally-gratefull]

Ok so there is a BIG misconception out there about what legalism is.

Definition: "Overly strict or rigid adherence to the law or to a religious or moral code"

Now look at this definition (I'm going to just use part of the definition). Overly strict.

The story I'm going to base the topic off is from Luke 6
Now along with this you can't just read it and go,"Ok, that's that."
You would need to understand that the Pharisees were making the Law "Overly strict", they were adding to it (which is hypocricy, but noone is going to tell their religious leader they're a hypocrit). To the Pharisees, on Sabbath you were no basically suppose to stay indoors besides going to synagouge and you could not do anything else and they were extremely strict on this. So again this is why the Pharisees question Yeshua on what He is doing and try to find fault in Him.


NKJV Luke 6:1-11
Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the first[SUP][a][/SUP] that He went through the grainfields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands. [SUP]2 [/SUP]And some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” [SUP]3 [/SUP]But Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read this, what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: [SUP]4 [/SUP]how he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?” [SUP]5 [/SUP]And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”
[SUP]
6 [/SUP]Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered. [SUP]7 [/SUP]So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him. [SUP]8 [/SUP]But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Arise and stand here.” And he arose and stood. [SUP]9 [/SUP]Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?”[SUP][b][/SUP] [SUP]10 [/SUP]And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man,[SUP][c][/SUP] “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.[SUP][d][/SUP] [SUP]11 [/SUP]But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

We see here that in the first story Yeshua is teaching that it is not wrong to go get some food for the belly on Sabbath, if you're hungry than eat.
Now in legalism, your food should already be prepared and if not you out of luck and can't eat. Yeshua is teaching against this type of legalism.

The second story the Pharisees again with their legalistic view of how Sabbath should be observed they wanted to try and trap Yeshua. Yeshua sees this clearly. So Yeshua showed that healing on Sabbath is not work, it is not evil, it is doing good.

So in this case, there is nothing "legalistic" about observing the Sabbath on it's appointed day. But it is "legalistic" to add or take away from it.

This is how I would correctly inturpret the term "legalistic".

Again this is just an example of what legalism is. Following Torah is not legalism, adding and take away from it is legalism which is what I believe Yeshua and Paul were teaching against when it comes to legalism.

when it concerns the sabbath.

legalism would say that on the sabbath, you are required to do certain things. Legalism would say if you do not do these things, or observe them, then you are under some sort of punishemnt.

A non legalist view would say saturday is a day of rest. we should all adhere to it. And leave it at that.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

Ok, and I'm not saying you do this, but when someone brings up following Torah in a lot of discussions almost every time immediately the Torah follower is accused of being legalistic. That's more of the reason behind my post.

thats funny, I have said over and over God told us to rest on saturday, and we all should observe that day

Yet i have never been told I am a legalist.

 

[Biblelogic01]

I think many of you might be missing something important. It is NOT whether or not you do this or that, it is that many people just seem to have to let other people know they think they should be doing it (whatever) also, or they are not obeying the Lord.... and may not "really" be Christians (like THEM) And, trust me, most make REAL sure they get that last part across as pointedly as they possible can.

Hey, if you do "whatever"... FINE. Just do it, and keep your trap shut about how others should be doing likewise.

Why do so many people seem to be unable to do that?

I have not once, on this post or another post stated something along the lines of forcing someone to observe anything. I've only stated my opinion on subjects and I have said multiple through my posts, on this one or others (and I will say It again) Torah observance does not make one man better than the other, it isn't a means of justification of what Yeshua did. And if it bothers you that much I will start saying God, just because it bothers you so much. And if I spelled synagogue wrong I apologize, I didn't know the posts were about my grammar. And last if someone wants to know if I'm Jewish I won't lie about it, if there's a problem with me being Jewish and accepting Yeshua as the Messiah take that up with the admin.

I will continue to post my point of view of something, I will not you're wrong or the other person is wrong. I apologise if I have offended you in any manner.

 

[Biblelogic01]

when it concerns the sabbath.

legalism would say that on the sabbath, you are required to do certain things. Legalism would say if you do not do these things, or observe them, then you are under some sort of punishemnt.

A non legalist view would say saturday is a day of rest. we should all adhere to it. And leave it at that.

thats funny, I have said over and over God told us to rest on saturday, and we all should observe that day

Yet i have never been told I am a legalist.

I've been in discussions (outside of the forum) why the Sabbath is Saturday and not Sunday, and I've been told that my idea or that I was legalistic about it.

 

[Deliver]

Ok so there is a BIG misconception out there about what legalism is.

Definition: "Overly strict or rigid adherence to the law or to a religious or moral code"

Now look at this definition (I'm going to just use part of the definition). Overly strict.

The story I'm going to base the topic off is from Luke 6
Now along with this you can't just read it and go,"Ok, that's that."
You would need to understand that the Pharisees were making the Law "Overly strict", they were adding to it (which is hypocricy, but noone is going to tell their religious leader they're a hypocrit). To the Pharisees, on Sabbath you were no basically suppose to stay indoors besides going to synagouge and you could not do anything else and they were extremely strict on this. So again this is why the Pharisees question Yeshua on what He is doing and try to find fault in Him.


NKJV Luke 6:1-11
Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the first[SUP][a][/SUP] that He went through the grainfields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands. [SUP]2 [/SUP]And some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” [SUP]3 [/SUP]But Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read this, what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: [SUP]4 [/SUP]how he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?” [SUP]5 [/SUP]And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”
[SUP]
6 [/SUP]Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered. [SUP]7 [/SUP]So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him. [SUP]8 [/SUP]But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Arise and stand here.” And he arose and stood. [SUP]9 [/SUP]Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?”[SUP][b][/SUP] [SUP]10 [/SUP]And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man,[SUP][c][/SUP] “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.[SUP][d][/SUP] [SUP]11 [/SUP]But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

We see here that in the first story Yeshua is teaching that it is not wrong to go get some food for the belly on Sabbath, if you're hungry than eat.
Now in legalism, your food should already be prepared and if not you out of luck and can't eat. Yeshua is teaching against this type of legalism.

The second story the Pharisees again with their legalistic view of how Sabbath should be observed they wanted to try and trap Yeshua. Yeshua sees this clearly. So Yeshua showed that healing on Sabbath is not work, it is not evil, it is doing good.

So in this case, there is nothing "legalistic" about observing the Sabbath on it's appointed day. But it is "legalistic" to add or take away from it.

This is how I would correctly inturpret the term "legalistic".

Again this is just an example of what legalism is. Following Torah is not legalism, adding and take away from it is legalism which is what I believe Yeshua and Paul were teaching against when it comes to legalism.

I've always seen these two examples as 'God can do what He likes because He IS the Word'.
Its like when people say that something is not written in the Bible and it happens, that it cannot be God. When really, God can do what He likes and we, as humans, don't have to think we know everything there is to know about God. We know a lot in part but we don't know fully.

 

[84Niner]

"Legalism" is just another way of defining what it is to be "religious". That is "Religious" being living a life to be pleasing to God, and honoring God....(without God).

There are really only two sources of our living out. One is a living based on "right and wrong", or.. "good and evil". This source of our living finds its origins in the "Tree of knowledge of good an evil" mentioned in Genesis. All natural human living and all religions are born out of this source, the Tree of knowledge of good and evil. This source (Tree) can produce a seemingly very good and moral living, and also can produce a very evil kind of living. However, it is all the same source and is Godless. Legalism finds it source here. Do this, and don't do this...or else.

The other source of living is not based on right or wrong,...good or evil. It is based on "LIFE". It is referred to as the Tree of Life. When living out of this source, there is no right or wrong, good or evil. There is only Life. God's Life. When Jesus lived on the earth, of course He lived by this source. That's why He said "I am the Life". His living was not about being good or bad, or right or wrong. His living was all about living in the will of the Father. That's all He cared for. He Himself was in effect the Tree of Life being lived out. A real Godman living.

The only way for us to escape a legalistic kind of living is not to analyze whether we are living according to law, or whether that law or this law is being too legal etc.. The only way to be set free from living in legalism is to immerse ourselves in Christ, feast upon Him every day and take Him as our living and trusting in His life. This does not mean that we will live a perfect life, but it does mean we will be set free from legalism. Try as we may, there is no other way.

The mistake believers often make is that when they realize that they are subject to failures and have a hard time living up to what they perceive as the "christian life", they resort to living in a legalistic way, verses just putting all our trust in Christ, feasting upon Him daily, enjoying Him daily, and simply living what we are, until we are more mature to live something else. Jesus said "he who eats of Me, shall live because of Me". We cannot live what we are not. When we try to do this, we just live a false life that ultimately ends in failure, frustration and doubt.

The Apostle Paul is the best example. He once lived a very legalistic religious living. After He met Christ and got saved he came to a point where he stated that "for me to live....is Christ". This was his way of showing that he had discarded living by legalism, and "knowledge" and had picked up the "way of life". He lived what he was. He lived Christ. This is the only real,...genuine..and acceptable source of living unto God. The is the Fathers choice. The Father highlighted this to a few of the disciples on the mount of transfiguration where Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus. Moses who represented the law, and Elijah who represented the prophets faded away leaving only Jesus standing there. Peter asked God if he should make three tents of honor for all three. Of course God said no, "see my Son here, in whom I am well pleased". This is just one passage and picture of God showing us that the way of Life in Christ was to now be our source of living, leaving religion with its legalism behind for good.

It is very very easy for us christians to fall back into a religious legalistic living. This is to be avoided at all costs. It causes untold harm to ourselves and our related members of His body. A religious legal kind of living may outwardly appear very moral and uplifted. However, no matter how it appears, God has no use for it, for it is not "of Christ". The only kind of living He accepts is the one born out of our relationship with Christ, one that has a easy yoke and is spontaneous. It is just what we are, and who we are.

 

[breno785au]

I think many of you might be missing something important. It is NOT whether or not you do this or that, it is that many people just seem to have to let other people know they think they should be doing it (whatever) also, or they are not obeying the Lord.... and may not "really" be Christians (like THEM) And, trust me, most make REAL sure they get that last part across as pointedly as they possible can.

Hey, if you do "whatever"... FINE. Just do it, and keep your trap shut about how others should be doing likewise.

Why do so many people seem to be unable to do that?

It helps them validate themselves? Comparison Christianity? Competitive religious fecal matter mindsets? I see it this way, if it's not sin, let it go for sake of all that's good and proper.

 

[Dan_473]

in Jesus' day, they were practicing execution for breaking certain laws... so, if you're going to kill someone for, say, adultery, it's really important to know for sure what adultery is...



in my experience, it's not to hard to find agreement on the theory of law keeping... the differences come in how to put it into practice...

for example, what would be some non-legalistic ways to practice not cutting the edges of your beard, and putting tassels on your clothes?

 

[JesusistheChrist]

I think many of you might be missing something important. It is NOT whether or not you do this or that, it is that many people just seem to have to let other people know they think they should be doing it (whatever) also, or they are not obeying the Lord.... and may not "really" be Christians (like THEM) And, trust me, most make REAL sure they get that last part across as pointedly as they possible can.

Hey, if you do "whatever"... FINE. Just do it, and keep your trap shut about how others should be doing likewise.

Why do so many people seem to be unable to do that?

The answer to your question is simple:

Because God is no respecter of persons or impartial and His standards apply to everyone. When I point out a standard from God's Word which applies to everybody (whether they like it or not), it's not to say, "Hey, look everybody at what I'm doing!" in some sort of vain display, but rather to exhort everyone to the standards which God Himself has ordained. IOW, it's called loving your neighbors as you love yourself...even though most of your neighbors will despise you for the same...as is evidenced daily on this very forum. I'll tell you plainly that I fully believe that those who despise such exhortations despise God Himself.

Anyhow, to the OP's point, my own observations both on this forum and elsewhere lead me to conclude that many professing Christians equate any sort of exhortation to holiness and/or obedience with "legalism"...because that's what rebels do.