Quotes about Legalism

Too many of us focus on the outward structure of character and conduct without taking the time to build the inward foundation of devotion to God. This often results in a cold morality or legalism, or, even worse, self-righteousness and spiritual pride.

Remember that I have been a legalist. We are the ones who throw stones. We are quick to judge without knowledge. We feed rumors and incline our heads to hear more. We label the messy people and gossip about the sinners and shake our heads in disgust. And when you have been a legalist in ministry, it's not pretty. And it's not ministry. And it couldn't possibly be what the Jesus had in mind when He said, "Go and teach them about me.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin.

The law, in so far as it leads men to put their confidence in it, consigns them necessarily to death.

When the law is separated from Christ, nothing is left but empty forms.

When there's something in the Bible that churches don't like, they call it 'legalism.'

My observation of Christendom is that most of us tend to base our relationship with God on our performance instead of on His grace.

Too often, however, we "honor" God by creating our own law, making ourselves more pious than Him. God says, "Don't eat," and we say, "Don't touch." God says, "Give ten percent," and we say, "Give twenty percent." Like the Pharisees before us, we add to God's law, then expect Him to pat us on the back. This problem of seeking a piety greater than God's, however, gets no uglier than when we apply it to ourselves.

Legalism always breeds compliance over purpose.

Whenever religion becomes a depressing affair of burdens and prohibitions, it ceases to be true religion.

Legalistic remorse says, "I broke God's rules," while real repentance says, "I broke God's heart."

Legalism is looking to something besides Jesus Christ in order to be acceptable and clean before God.