I am doing bible study on discipline. This is the question that was asked, and I studied discipline but could not come up with legalistic. I appreciate your help and insights.
Thank you.
2007-08-11 09:29:04 · 9 answers · asked by valwilliams05 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Being disciplined means either having self control, or its a measure taken, usually against children for misbehaving.
Such as taking the car keys away from a teenage driver who just got a speeding ticket or got home too late.
Being legalistic is when a religious group creates a bunch of man made rules which they assume will make one a better Christian, but their rules are not found in or based on the Bible.
Like the church which creates a rule which says that their people can't go to movies which are Rated R, then the Passion of the Christ comes out, which is good moive, and the church looks at its rule book and says, "R - Rated we can't see that."
Or the church which sees a bunch of hippies wearing Bell Bottom Trousers, and they agree to ban bell bottoms hoping that will keep their teenagers from becoming hippies.
Then a member of the US Navy, in uniform wants to visit the church and he is told he's not allowed to because he's wearing worldly and sinful bell bottom trousers.
That's legalism.
Pastor Art
2007-08-11 10:04:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When Theologians use "Legalistic" they mean that practioneer is too focused on the "letter of the law" and/or Church rules and regulations. With many of those rules being of purely human invention.
And not paying enough attention to LOVE, which is the heart-of-Christianity and the rules that are God-Given.
The Pharisees were a good ancient example of a legalistic approach. They really believed arcane dietary rituals were critically important. The Mormons are a good modern example. They think refraining from drinking coffee is more important than the 10 Commandments.
2007-08-11 16:38:14 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Okay, in religion, the word 'discipline' is about your 'general behavior' ... if you are 'well disciplined' you would be a 'nice person' who whould help others regardless of whether they could EVER help you or not.
If you are using the word 'legalistic' in a religious sense, it's about 'following the letter of the law' and thinking that is 'enough' to get you into heaven ... i.e., going to church every Sunday, saying all of the prayers, going to all of the 'special services' ... but doing 'nothing' in 'charity' for others.
In my church, we are 'taught' IN CHURCH different ways to live when we 'are not in church' ... different things every Sunday, but ALL are 'vital' to my church to keep us 'healthy, holy, and good.' We may have one of the 'strongest legalist religions' but we also truly believe that the 'discipline' is far more important than the 'legality' ...
2007-08-11 16:37:03 · answer #3 · answered by Kris L 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Legalistic is the extreme use of the word of God. Jesus was criticized for allowing his disciples to pick corn on the Sabbath. He said that the Priests know the letter of the Law but did not know the heart of the law. He said that God made the Sabbath for man, not man for the Sabbath. Sometimes people can be so spiritually proud that they judge others with the word when they are not to judge. They use religion to cast a stone at others when they live in a glass house. Jesus said before you take the splinter out of someones eye you should first take the board out of your own. He was against the religious traditions and the temple knew the law and used it as a legal weapon against people instead of teaching them righteousness with it in a Loving way.
Rev. TomCat
2007-08-11 16:44:29 · answer #4 · answered by Rev. TomCat 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Legalism is a set of laws that point out things that under most circumstances, should be wrong to do.
Discipline is self control, that makes a person do the right thing under all circumstances.
2007-08-11 16:35:29 · answer #5 · answered by THEHATEDTRUTH 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being disciplined in service to God is out of Love and a desire to serve Him.
Being disciplined thorough legalism is a fear of the punishment
2007-08-12 09:25:30 · answer #6 · answered by drg5609 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Disciplined: I do this because I am saved.
Legalistic: I do this so I can be saved.
2007-08-12 09:00:22 · answer #7 · answered by don_steele54 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In a simple way: A criminal who would execute crimes can be disciplined but that will not be legalized.
2007-08-11 16:37:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This will help you a lot. Good luck on your studies.
http://www.realtime.net/~wdoud/topics/legalism.html
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2007-08-11 16:35:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋