Self-Improvement and the Danger of Weaponized Scripture

Do you find yourself constantly judging others? It’s natural to feel a responsibility to guide others in their faith, especially if you’re a mature Christian or in a position of authority. While it is true that “iron sharpens iron” and that constructive criticism from Scripture can help us grow in our faith, there is a fine line between righteous judgment and just plain old being a jerk.

As Christians, we are called to encourage each other to live according to God’s laws. When legalism overshadows grace, scripture can be used in ways that were never intended – to hurt rather than heal. It can push people away from Christ, rather than draw them into a loving relationship with Him.

What are God’s laws?

Many people who have grown up in church can ramble off a long list of “dos and don’ts” that are either authentically in the Bible or are falsely attributed to it. The line between what is actually in Scripture and what is man-made is often blurred, with some of God’s most fundamental laws being ignored and man-made laws taking a prominent place in church doctrines.

God’s laws, when properly understood, are selfless guides to help us flawed humans to live righteously toward each other, and ourselves. They serve to protect us from sin, help us thrive, and most importantly, point us to God and His revealed will. Disobeying God’s commands always has consequences, but the ultimate purpose of the law is to drive us to Him and be a roadmap to a life marked by love for God and neighbor, and love of justice, and peace.

Why did God give us Scripture?

God’s laws are often misunderstood and therefore misrepresented. They are sometimes presented as burdensome restrictions, when in fact, they are reflections of God’s character that are intended to promote love, and justice and lead humanity to an abundant life of faith in Him.

Jesus summarizes the heart of the law with the two greatest commandments (Matthew 22:37) “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The idea of love is at the core of these directives and the entirety of God’s laws. We were not created to be mindless, rule-following robots, but were given free will and guidelines that, when followed, lead to a life filled with love, unity, and compassion toward others.

Legalism

Even the perfection of God’s plan can be corrupted when manipulated by human hands. We saw what happened when Adam and Eve were left to their own devices. While some people may use God’s word and plan to intentionally manipulate others, most manipulation happens out of ignorance or a genuine and enthusiastic, yet misguided, desire to follow God’s perfect laws.

As in many things in life, the truth about God’s laws lies somewhere between legalism and the belief that God’s love is unconditional which removes all our responsibility to live in a way that honors Him. Living in either extreme can not only lead you away from God but can cause division among the Church, allow pride to take root, and be a catalyst for manipulation of others.

The rigid adherence to laws for the sake of the rules alone, known as legalism, distorts the intent of God’s guidelines. It replaces the relationship with regulation and leaves little room for grace. This is why Jesus so often clashed with the Pharisees, who were known for their legalism. Like the Pharisees, some well-meaning modern Christians focus so heavily on external rule-keeping that they fail to understand the heart of God’s law, which is love.

Legalism may seem noble on the surface, as it means that people are wholeheartedly following God’s guidelines without question or contest. But underneath that goal of perfection can lie the root of pride.

Those who are legalistically minded live so rigidly to the rules that they have been taught or to their understanding of God’s law, that they leave very little room for mistakes in their own life or the lives of those around them. Though a disciplined life of service to Christ is how we are to walk the narrow path, it does not give us the right to use our implied self-perfection to judge those who are still figuring out their walk with Christ.

Romans 6:14 tells us that we are “no longer under law, but under grace.” God invites us to live out His guidelines, not as burdensome commands but as a reflection of His love. And He expects us to help others do the same.

Grace over judgment in Scripture

Judgmental attitudes that are often the byproduct of legalism are incompatible with the grace that Jesus modeled. Jesus confronted those who were ready to stone the woman who was caught in adultery (John 8). Sinless, perfect, Jesus could have condemned the woman.

What was His response? “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” Jesus did not list the woman’s transgression or point a finger in condemnation. He offered forgiveness. Grace does not mean that there are no consequences to sin, but it means that through Jesus, we are offered forgiveness and restoration.

Freedom through Christ as portrayed in Scripture

Christ didn’t come to Earth to impose stifling restrictions but to set people free. This freedom is not free from responsibility or moral guidance but from the weight of legalism, and of course, sin. It’s a freedom that allows us to follow God’s will joyfully, and abundantly, living out our faith in love and humility.

God’s perfect laws are meant to draw us closer to grace and freedom. Legalism misses the point of God’s law by turning it into a checklist of dos and don’ts and strips it of the power of grace. True faith embraces the grace that Jesus offers. We will fail, but we are forgiven and restored through Him. As followers of Christ, we should extend this same grace to others and follow the ultimate commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Forgive others Forgive yourself

Just as pointing out sin in someone else’s life can be tricky, spotting legalism in your own life can be difficult and painful. Being legalistic and judgmental doesn’t necessarily mean your conscious intentions weren’t pure.

We may tell ourselves that we have to point out sin in another person’s life or that we are just trying to help them become closer to Christ. But the Scripture tells us to speak the truth in love, not hostility. We need to examine our own lives and approach others with humility, aiming for restoration, not condemnation. Don’t let your judgment of other people’s sins cause you to sin, too.

Forgiveness offers a path to healing for both us and those we judge. When we hold onto prejudices about how others are living their life in Christ or harbor resentment when they don’t believe as we do, we become prisoners of our own judgments and sin. This can be a heavy and toxic weight to carry around.

But forgiveness! God forgives you for your mistakes and your judgment, likewise you should forgive yourself and offer grace to others who are trying to figure out their own path.

Embrace grace

If you are a mentor or leader in the faith, it’s particularly important to remember that your role is not to wield Scripture as a weapon, but to offer grace to others as you lead them toward a loving Father. Legalism can easily cloud our judgment and lead us to impose rigid standards that fail to reflect the love of Christ. Instead of scrutinizing the lives of others and holding them to man-made laws, work toward developing an authentic relationship with them.

If you find yourself struggling to release the grip of legalism, feeling overwhelmed by your judgment of others, or feeling judged yourself, it might be time to seek therapy. A Christian therapist at San Diego Christian Counseling can help you separate the truth of Scripture from the man-made rules and not only show you how to approach people in love, but how to forgive yourself and others in your failures.