Life After Legalism by CHERYL ZACH The following was originally written as a blog article by


the author. It is being republished within the Fellowship Focus with the permission of the author. — Editor


Saved out of antagonistic atheism into an amazing


life of meaning and purpose, my husband and I were ready to do absolutely anything for our Savior. Salvation was so profound, liberating, joyful — and certainly unexpected! Our lives and marriage had been restored, peace was a deep new reality, and our direction had changed 180 degrees. We spoke for Him whenever the opportunity arose — confronting friends, family, coworkers, and even strangers with the glorious news of hope beyond this pale existence. We even disrupted a fraternity party — at their invitation. Hearing that we "got religion," they dared us to come. Our fervor far outstripped our wisdom at that point, as talking to drunk people about the meaning of life was more entertaining than productive.


We were fanatics — in the best sense of the word. At


just the moment we were looking for a new church, we were introduced to a subculture non-denominational gather- ing of serious disciples like ourselves. We joined them in weekly Bible study, worship (where all could participate), prayer meeting, and fellowship. We went out into the parks to share the love of Christ with people. We jumped in with both feet. It was beautiful, though rigorous — until it was slowly suffocated by the insidious fingers of legalism.


Hindsight is brutal as one finally connects the dots.


One man wielding undue control in the various churches while preaching individual autonomy; the installation of his sons on the denominational dime (one of whom worked hard while the other was pompously domineer- ing); insistence on enormous time investments into the leader’s preaching, even when it became dull and lifeless; authority given to the leadership which superseded the conscience of the individual; guilt-inducing pressure to


conform to church standards. Etcetera. One wonders in retrospect how we could have been so blind.


But consider for a second the Book of Acts. They got


saved, spent a lot of time meeting for worship, prayer, fellowship, Bible study, and turned over their goods and property to the apostles for the needs of their brethren. They were the sheer definition of subculture while simul- taneously serving those who dismissed and even perse- cuted them. They took direction, uprooting their lives at the request of their leaders, and rejoiced at the prospect of suffering for their Savior.


My husband and I filtered our experience through


that prism. At first it was very much like a New Testament church; refreshingly different from the disappointing mainstream experience we had left — more real, engaging, and satisfying. But imperceptibly the precept of power unchecked by the reins of the Holy Spirit corrupted the system. In a few short years, by the time my children were teenagers, there was this unsettling undercurrent that one could not quite identify — something was definitely wrong although we were doing the same things. Vague symptoms made diagnostic efforts fragmented and ineffective. We were at stage four before we really understood the nature of our disease.


It was difficult to pinpoint the issue since the preach-


ing was, for the most part, dynamic. Gift obscured sin. The form of fellowship was scriptural. Our spiritual immatu- rity, fervor, and goodwill were exploited. Only later did I learn that a crucial teaching for a healthy church was pre- dominantly omitted — grace. That one principle applied to all our doctrine could have beautified and sanctified it. Keeping rules makes one a condemning judge, both of yourself and others. It makes you forget that you were saved while a meritless enemy. Your blind spot distorts your thinking so that coercion passes for care. Knowing the truth supersedes doing it.


CONTINUED ON PAGE 16 Only later did I learn that a crucial teaching for a


healthy church was predominantly omitted — grace. That one principle applied to all our doctrine could have beautified and sanctified it.


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