Legalism is putting your trust in reputation. Finally, Paul adds, "As for zeal, and as for legalistic righteousness, I was faultless." (Phil. 3:6b) In other words, Paul was saying he was a superstar legalist! Today we might brag on how many people attend our church, how long we pray, or how many people we led to Christ last week. The end result is the same - they won't make God any happier with us.
Nothing is wrong with any of these. The problem comes when we think they give us points with God - they don't. He loves us unconditionally. If you start trusting in these things, you're going to lose your joy and your ministry will crumble.
The antidote to legalism is grace. Grace means we don't have to earn God's love, and we don't have to earn his smile. God is always smiling at us. Because I deserve it? Not a chance. Because I keep certain rules and regulations? Not a chance. It's because I'm covered with the blood of Jesus Christ.
The problem for many of us in ministry is we subtly shift our perspective from what God has done for us to what we are doing for God in ministry. That's dangerous - very dangerous. God won't love you any more or any less no matter how you serve him. What you get out of service is joy. You don't get approval. God approves of you, but it's not because of what you do. He approves of you because of what Christ did for you already. That's grace.
The Christian life is not a ritual and it's not about rules - it's a relationship. Religion is based upon performance, but Christianity is based on a person, Jesus Christ. Don't ever forget that or your ministry is finished. And you'll lose your joy. Nothing is sadder than a cynical person in ministry.
Rick Warren
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Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose-Driven Life and The Purpose-Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for ministers. Copyright 2005 Pastors.com, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
