You know you’ve been influenced by legalism when your burden to avoid what is wrong robs you of your delight in serving Christ. I propose that this delight is primarily missing not simply because of the burdensome drudgery of keeping law but because of a mischaracterization of God.
A prime example of this is found in a parable that Jesus tells in Matthew 25 about three servants who were given responsibility over their master’s assets. Two of them went about their duty with diligence and returned an increased portion to the master while the other dug a hole and hid the master’s property in the ground for safe keeping. The telling detail in this parable is that this particular servant had a particular view of his master. He viewed his master as a harsh man exacting excessive punishment on those who don’t meet his expectation. He believed his master took advantage of others by expecting others to do all his work while he reaped the reward. This negative view of the master has this servant unwilling to risk anything in his life for the betterment of his master’s estate.
This may seem to us that this servant has a particularly horrid view of his master or that his master is some type of unjust tyrant. The parable allows no such negative view of the master and shows this servant as the one who is evil and lazy in his reluctance to serve his master who greatly rewards faithfulness. The parable has us considering that there must be something amazing and beyond explanation as to why we would risk our very lives to serve this master. The expectation is that those who do serve the master well go on to serve with greater responsibility as they experience the master’s joy in them.
Ultimately this parable does indeed give us a great view of the legalistic heart. The legalist views God as a tyrant out to keep score and bring recompense. It only strives to live through life by not avoiding anything to make God unhappy. The legalist lives life in fear and without delight and is motivated only by avoiding judgment.
When we are motivated by grace, our view of God is that he is as holy, just, and righteous as he is merciful, gracious, and loving. We see the glory of his Divine humility in the cross and the incomprehensible gift of forgiveness and eternal life. We look at Jesus and see a glory that is irresistible. We want to serve him and love him and see the glory of his kingdom increase. We are motivated by delight and obedience is not a chore.
Bottom line: Our view of God matters.