Tightly Wrapped Mummy
E.A. Johnston warns against the spiritual paralysis caused by legalism, urging believers to break free from self-imposed religious constraints and embrace the liberating power of Christ.
In 'Tightly Wrapped Mummy,' E.A. Johnston challenges believers to recognize how legalism and self-imposed religious restrictions can hinder their spiritual growth and ministry effectiveness. Drawing from the story of Lazarus, Johnston illustrates the necessity of hearing and responding to Jesus’ call to break free from spiritual bondage. This sermon encourages Christians to cast off their grave clothes of legalism and embrace the freedom found in faith and obedience to Christ.
Full Transcript
I believe men in ministry can limit themselves for God. I know this to be true, friends, for I've seen it time and time again through the years of laboring for God. Observing such behavior in religious men is often depressing because one looks at them and wonders at all the potential that lay in ruin.
Men who were gifted of God and men who could have made a deeper footprint for God in their generation, but they are men self-hindered from doing greater things for God. They are bound individuals, restricted by the dogma of their own beliefs and self-imposed rules, tightly wrapped in the grave clothes of their own legalism. These individuals are so tightly wrapped like a mummy, all they can do is hop around from one place to another, bumping around in busy religious activity, but too entrenched in their own set ways to ever break out for God, cast off their grave clothes and run with freedom, yet alone ever sore like an eagle.
They are merely religious mummies, let out of their painted coffin from time to time to stagger about slowly down the corridor of their pyramid of legalism, only to find their way out into the sunshine once in a while to face the reality of a world that is too much for them. For while they were in their coffin of a bound religion, the world changed around them, and their eyes can't adjust to their new environment. They are blinded by the glare of a sin-loving society as they totter back and forth aimlessly until they retreat once again into their cave and recede back into the labyrinth of their religion that keeps them bound, hand and foot, like a tightly wrapped mummy, to such a degree the sound of their ministry is only a faint mumble, barely heard or even understood.
If only they had been willing to lay still a little longer until they heard his voice, maybe things would have been a little different for them, like this passage from the Gospel of John illustrates. And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth! And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
Sermon Outline
-
I
- Men in ministry often limit themselves for God
- Potential is wasted due to self-imposed restrictions
- Legalism acts as grave clothes binding believers
-
II
- Religious activity without freedom is ineffective
- Believers become like mummies, unable to adapt
- The world changes but bound believers remain stagnant
-
III
- Jesus calls to break free from grave clothes
- Hearing and responding to Christ’s voice is essential
- Freedom comes through obedience and faith
Key Quotes
“They are men self-hindered from doing greater things for God, bound by the dogma of their own beliefs and self-imposed rules.” — E.A. Johnston
“These individuals are so tightly wrapped like a mummy, all they can do is hop around from one place to another, bumping around in busy religious activity, but too entrenched in their own set ways to ever break out for God.” — E.A. Johnston
“If only they had been willing to lay still a little longer until they heard his voice, maybe things would have been a little different for them.” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- Examine your own life for areas where legalism may be restricting your spiritual growth.
- Be still and listen for Jesus’ voice calling you to freedom and new life.
- Trust and obey Christ to cast off the grave clothes of self-imposed religious rules.