Using a fear of legalism as an excuse to be lazy.

I would do a daily quiet time. I would journal or set a goal to read the Bible in a year. I would do all of those things right this second, but I've got an issue. I have something that I fear like teen girls fear Bieber retiring at age 18 so he can pursue an undergraduate degree in Economics at the University of Illinois.

I don't want to become legalistic.

Whenever someone challenges me spiritually, that's my get out of jail free card, "I don't want to become all legalistic." Praying consistently and actually writing down what I'm praying for? Legalistic. Setting a time every day to do my quiet time? Legalistic. Staying accountable to a friend to read my Bible more? Legalistic.

I fear that if I put any kind of boundaries around my day, I'll go from 0 to full suit/all hymns/no social justice legalistic in about 4.2 seconds. And I hate pleated pants, which everyone knows legalistic people wear non stop. Their pajamas are probably pleated. Not me. I have a free form faith. A dynamic, alive faith. A flat front pants faith if you will.

Didn't you read yesterday's Serious Wednesday post? It was heavy and really a testament to what happens if you get too legalistic. Reading the Bible regularly on a schedule is only one degree removed from thinking you have to earn Christ's love everyday.

Is that a giant leap? Do I make plans for other areas of my life, like attending work at the same time every weekday without getting legalistic? Does my complete interpretation of all things deliberate as slippery slopes toward legalism seem a bit extreme? Does my carefree faith seem in opposition to Ephesians 5:15-16 which says, "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil?"

Wait a second, you're asking an awful lot of questions. Let me see your pants.

That's what I thought.

Pleats.

You're so legalistic.