God never said you have to marry the first person you date; He said, “be holy” (1 Pet. 1:16).
God never said women could never speak up in church; He said, “submit to your own husbands” (Eph. 5:22).
God didn’t command us to save our first kiss for marriage; He said, “be pure” (1 Cor. 6:18).
Legalism drives a wedge between the truth of God and our hearts. It removes the necessity of a daily relationship with the Lord because all we need to do is follow the rules. It is not Spirit-led. It is not Jesus-focused. And it is not grace-driven.
God’s goal is not to produce a bunch of rule-followers but an army of Christ-followers whose dedication to Him produces lives of holiness.
So I left legalism. I stopped following the rules and I began seeking the Spirit of the Living God within me: a voice I’d muffled with my own ideas of what righteousness was supposed to be. I sought Him where He waits to be found: in His Word and on my knees.
And as I sought Him, He led me to save myself for marriage. My husband and I still waited until our wedding day to kiss. I’ll still homeschool my children, I still attend church, and I still believe in modesty.
I don’t do it because I’m bound to a list of limiting rules. I do it because I was shown grace while still a Pharisee. I do it because I finally looked in God’s Word for myself and read what it said.
Legalistic Christianity is not Christianity. It is man’s commentary on God’s commands.
As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. (Gal. 1:9-10)
Don’t be deceived: look into God’s Word for yourself. Don’t reject Him based on the actions of His so-called followers. The walk of faith is a walk of freedom. Holiness comes by the Spirit of God inspiring us to action, for Christ came that we may have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10).
