When the Room is Legalistic, But the Light is in You
“Sometimes the Lion roars through stillness.”
A grace-oriented reflection on being Christ’s fragrance in law-centered Bible studies
I’ve hesitated to join small groups in the past—not out of pride, but out of sorrow. When I hear someone teach as if we must perform to remain acceptable to God, something inside me grieves. I lived that way for 59 years, striving to measure up, until Christ opened my eyes to the exchanged life—His life in me, and my life hidden in Him. Now, when I hear law-centered thinking, it’s not anger I feel—it’s deep compassion. But I also wrestle with how to engage in these spaces.
Should I speak? Should I remain silent? Am I compelled to correct, or called to release?
Recently, my mentor brought back a metaphor I had once shared—Aslan, the great lion from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. He said, “You don’t need to defend the Lion. Just release Him.” That stayed with me. Christ, the Lion of Judah, doesn’t need our protection—He simply desires our yielded presence. My role isn’t to convince the room or control the moment. It’s to abide, be available, and trust that He will make Himself known in His time, in His way. That’s really what stirred this reflection.
Walk in with Christ’s Peace, Not a Burden to Correct
You’re not entering the study as a reformer—you’re walking in as a resting one. You are light in the Lord (Ephesians 5:8). That light doesn’t come with a bullhorn; it comes with presence. You don’t carry Christ like a badge—you are the expression of His indwelling life. There is no pressure to change others, just availability to let Christ live through you.
Breathe easy. The Lion knows how to roar when needed.
Discern Before You Speak – Not Just What, But Why
Often, our flesh feels provoked to say something, but the Spirit may be prompting us to pray instead. As a Christ-in-you believer, your first response is not reaction—it’s recognition. Is this an invitation from the Spirit to release truth? Or a subtle nudge from the flesh to defend truth?
Ask inwardly:
“Lord, is this You rising up in me—or just me rising up for You?”
Discernment in the Spirit is not passive—it’s powerful.
Use the Columbo Technique—Sanctified Curiosity
My mentor introduced me to this method, modeled after the detective from the old TV show. Columbo would ask questions instead of making declarative statements, allowing truth to surface rather than forcing it.
Here are a few ways this plays out in Spirit-led dialogue:
“That’s an interesting take—how do you see that fitting with Romans 6?”
“What does it mean to you that we’re already seated with Christ in the heavenlies?”
“How do you reconcile that with Jesus saying His yoke is easy and His burden light?”
These questions don’t put people on the defensive—they invite them into the light.
Stay Anchored in Identity, Not Outcome
If no one shifts their perspective, your heart remains secure. You are not validated by agreement or discouraged by misunderstanding. You’re simply being the fragrance of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15). Your peace isn’t tethered to whether they ‘get it’—your peace is the Person within you.
Rest in knowing: you are light, even if they don’t yet see it.
Reflect Later with the Spirit
I’ve found something life-giving in this rhythm: take notes during the study, then reflect afterward. Bring it to the Spirit in prayer—perhaps even write a blog post, create a YouTube video out of it, or simply reflect in your personal journaling with the Lord.
This isn’t avoidance—it’s engagement without reaction. Sometimes the most fruitful response happens after the meeting, not in it.
Let Silence Speak Sometimes
You don’t need to be the one talking for Christ to be heard. Your stillness, your kindness, your restraint—it radiates. Jesus remained silent before Pilate, not out of fear but out of full control. Sometimes silence isn’t timidity—it’s trust.
If He gives you a word, share it with grace. If not, let your peace speak.
Remember—You Were Once There Too
This is key. You’re not frustrated with them; you’re grateful for grace. You remember what it was like to strive, to live under the heavy burden of legalism. So when others speak from that place, your heart doesn’t flare up in irritation—it aches with compassion.
You’re not “us versus them.” You’re Him in you for them.
Closing Thought
You're not entering a study to steer the conversation—you’re walking in as one who carries Christ. The goal isn’t to change minds in real-time; it’s to let the Lion be present through you. He knows how to roar in whispers. When the study ends and you step outside, know this: His light in you has been seen. His fragrance has lingered. And He will use it.
So take your seat. Take your notes. Ask your gentle questions. And release the Lion.
If you’ve walked into Bible studies burdened by legalism and longed to express grace, I’d love to hear your story. Let’s learn to walk as children of light—together.
🦁✨
Photo Suggestion for This Post:
A person seated quietly at the edge of a table, sunlight from a nearby window bathing them in soft light while the rest of the room remains dim.
Caption: