Prayer, legalism and duty

One of the things that has changed in church culture is a desire to avoid anything legalistic, there is a great emphasis on relationship and the freedom that is ours in Christ. This is a great truth and one which we must not forget because becoming religious remains a great danger for us.

However, I wonder if we are now in a time when we face the very opposite danger. Where now everything that is a pattern or a habit or a duty is viewed as being dangerously akin to legalism.

John Piper has said this:
"...very few set aside set times to pray alone-and fewer still think it is worth it to meet with others to pray. And we wonder why our faith is weak. And our hope is feeble. And our passion for Christ is small.

And meanwhile the devil is whispering all over this room: “The pastor is getting legalistic now. He’s starting to use guilt now. He’s getting out the law now.” To which I say, “To hell with the devil and all of his destructive lies. Be free!” Is it true that intentional, regular, disciplined, earnest, Christ-dependent, God-glorifying, joyful prayer is a duty? . . . Is it a discipline?
You can call it that.

• It’s a duty the way it’s the duty of a scuba diver to put on his air tank before he goes underwater.
• It’s a duty the way pilots listen to air traffic controllers.
• It’s a duty the way soldiers in combat clean their rifles and load their guns.
• It’s a duty the way hungry people eat food.
• It’s a duty the way thirsty people drink water.
• It’s a duty the way a deaf man puts in his hearing aid.
• It’s a duty the way a diabetic takes his insulin.
• It’s a duty the way Pooh Bear looks for honey.
• It’s a duty the way pirates look for gold."

We need that realisation, that view of prayer if we as a church in Britain are to see the believer discipled and grow to maturity, the lost won and the church multiplied.