The legalism in our lives often goes unnoticed, filed under habitual, chronic, or our private—or not so private—rituals. And, I suppose, at times it makes for a certain safeness we feel by somehow thinking of it as the setting up of “boundaries” for our lives.
Where these legalistic “boundaries” can prove harmful to us is in our faith issues. When we put our God in a box and assume He has to perform according to ritualistic ways, we narrow His spectrum of operation in our lives and fail to see His grandness and uniqueness in the lives of others. His mercy, His compassion, His ability to see into the hearts of mankind exceeds our own by immeasurable amounts.
Where legalism has become acceptable to a degree is in the publishing arena. We recognize it as the rules of writing, the rules for submissions, the rules for qualifying “good” or “great” writing, the rules for proper conduct in pitching, querying, proposals, and even in the conversation concerning all of the aforementioned rules.
Before you assume that I think rules are unnecessary or inhibiting, I will tell you that without them there could be no understanding whatsoever of what is expected of a writer, and, as a result, there would be chaos. And from what I gather from the professionals, there is already enough of that with the rules in place.
Keeping these forms of legalism in mind, consider that some writers insist that Christian literature should not be separated and labeled differently from secular literature. Others insist it should have its own name for a couple of reasons, those being its lack of appeal to the secular publishers and the ability to be found by those seeking it. While I would definitely agree that some of the so-called Christian novels should be side by side with their secular counterparts, many should not, although I see no need for them to be scrunched into small spaces and labeled “Inspirational” either. The connotation of inspirational to a secular reader implies “religious” which further implies “churchy” stories with no real understanding of the breadth of Christian fiction in today’s market.
Legalism does imply a formula or the following of a ritual. Think the Old Testament priests and temple offerings. The succinct, excruciatingly precise formula for the covering over of the sins of Israel. Was it able to be kept? No. It was observed and conducted as true to form as possible, but God knew it would not be perfect because of the human element involved.
And, likewise, with writing professionals at the helm of Christian publishing, we can assume that the business is not perfect nor will it ever be. What the current generation of mature professionals pursues might not encompass the future desire of those in the business. The younger agents and editors already exhibit a certain difference in their focuses and methods of writing preferences. It seems we’re seeing more and more novels under the “Christian” publishing label which contain little or no reference to God, let alone Jesus Christ. Either way you approach the subject of legalism, it can be found on both sides.
With some authors, agents, and editors preaching there are only certain ways to write to become published, writers must gauge their ability to adopt the legalism and conform to the requirements. It’s the publishers’ game after all, and they decide the rules. So when you read a novel which breaks all those stringent, legalistic requirements being touted by the professionals, don’t be surprised that the legalism was trashed for something more valuable.
Father, you cannot be contained. Not by the universe. Certainly not by the limitations of man. Thank you for that. So much. I am desperate for you, for as much of your fullness as I can handle. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
*Please pray for the family of Kristy Dykes.*