Marsha's Musings: How A Legalist Comes into Being

My Quiet Time

Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm. (I Timothy 1:5-7 NKJV)

What commandment is Paul talking about?  We find that in the verses prior to this.  He charged that certain persons not teach any different doctrine, nor devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies which promote speculations rather than being good stewards of the truth.

Now he is telling what the purpose of that commandment is....it is love from:

1. from a pure heart

2. from a good conscience

3. from sincere faith

The purpose is love, but not just any kind of love but love that springs from purity of heart, conscience and sincere faith.  

What happens when one does not love others in this way?  We end up with those who wander off in idle talk, speculating about things the Bible does not clearly address.  They end up making up their own doctrines and laws.  They try to be teachers of the law themselves when they do not know what they are even talking about.  Basically you end up with those who teach legalism, adding things to Scripture that are not there and trying to force everyone to fit into the mold they have created.  It often turns into spiritual abuse and is very ugly.  I have seen it in action on many occasions and have been the recipient of its ugliness at times.