In today’s church culture, the line between holiness and legalism has become blurred, and many believers find themselves trapped in a cycle of fear and performance. As Isaiah Saldivar explained in a recent podcast with Apostle Alexander Pagani, “We believe in holiness, but biblical holiness, not man-made legalism.”
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Pagani emphasized that legalism is not just about outward rules—it’s about a mindset that replaces God’s authority with human control. In hyper-Pentecostal or ultra-holiness circles, for example, rules often start as personal convictions for spiritual growth, but over time they become rigid doctrines. He notes, “You’ll have pastors saying a woman wearing pants is going to hell.”
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Legalism is further reinforced when believers confuse obedience with salvation. Pagani warns, “Anything that we add that takes away from the supremacy of the efficacy of Christ’s work on the cross… is legalism.” This works-based mindset leaves believers exhausted and spiritually traumatized, repeatedly returning to the altar in fear and doubt.
He describes this residual trauma as religious PTSD—what he defines as Pressure to Submit Disorder. Even years after leaving a legalistic church, believers can carry the scars of judgment, fear and public shaming. “…the residual of that still creeps up on me,” he admitted. “I find myself having to say, ‘No, that is not the Holy Spirit. Calm down. You’re going to be fine.’”
Legalism often fosters isolation and elitism. Churches that enforce rigid rules tend to exclude those who do not conform, creating an environment where members are discouraged from interacting with non-believers or even fellow Christians outside the congregation. “That’s cultish. And that legalistic spirit says, ‘I’m better than everybody else. I have revival; nobody else has it,’” Saldivar said.
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Ultimately, Saldivar and Pagani call believers to embrace Spirit-led holiness rather than man-made rules. True freedom in Christ comes not from rigid regulations or fear of judgment, but from resting in His grace and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide every step. As they emphasize, walking in holiness under God’s authority empowers believers to live fully surrendered, joyful and effective lives—free from the chains of legalism, isolation and religious trauma.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.
