Legalism. Most Christians know it’s wrong, but we may not recognize it when it shows up in our own thinking.
Some people believe they can earn salvation by being good enough. Others understand that salvation is by grace but subtly begin to believe they must do certain things to keep themselves in God’s favor.
But there’s another form of legalistic thinking that’s even easier to miss:
If I do the right things, God owes me the outcome I want.
I go to church, so God should protect me from hardship. I raised my children in church, so they should follow Christ. I tithe, so God should prosper me financially. I live a healthy lifestyle, so God shouldn’t allow me to become seriously ill.
And surprisingly, that same thinking lies beneath much of the faith and prosperity gospel.
So what exactly is legalism? Is calling someone to biblical obedience legalistic? And could we be guilty of legalism without even realizing it?


