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STAGE II:   LEGALISM AND CONCRETISM

Stage two is morally oriented.  It is the normal cognitive level for elementary children.  Boys and girls at this age need rules rather than principles.  They obey in order to escape punishment or in order to earn rewards.  Concrete objects are used to help them grasp meaning.  For instance, math is learned by counting apples or adding beads to a string.  Abstract thought about complex concepts is still impossible.  The strength of stage two includes its careful discipline and dedication to duty.  The weakness of stage two is its tendency toward absolutism and judgmentalism.

Civilization was at this stage during the times of Moses and the Judges.  The Ten Commandments and the specific ceremonial requirements provided the people with the necessary external discipline to lead safe and productive lives.  Of course, again, elements of this type of worship continue throughout the Scriptures.  This explains such phenomena as:  Sacrificial rituals; arbitrary taboos and specific ordinances.  These concrete actions were essential at that stage of development.

The "Stage Two" viewpoint is reflected in Scriptures such as these:  "The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement.  Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present an offering made to the Lord by fire.  These are the Lord's appointed feasts, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing offerings made to the Lord by fire--the burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings required for each day" (Lev.  23:27,37).

Since it took physical deeds to make intentions clear, exact, detailed and pedantic instructions for worship procedures seemed important.

"If anyone injures his neighbor, whatever he has done must be done to him:  fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. As he has injured the other, so he is to be injured" (Lev.  24:19-20).

At this time retaliation was considered essential and "fairness," not mercy was the goal.  Therefore, a "tit for tat" justice system was required.

"After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites are to come to do the carrying.  But they must not touch the holy things or they will die . . ." (Num.  4:15).

Superstitions, unreasonable taboos and illogical prohibitions were used to control people.

"Gideon said to God, 'If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised-look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.'  And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew--a bowlful of water.  Then Gideon said to God, 'Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew.'  That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew" (Judges 6:36-40).

Since the conscience or Holy Spirit within was unknown, worshipers expected God to show them His will through dramatic and miraculous signs.

"And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord: 'If you give the Ammonites into my hands,
whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord's, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.'  When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of tambourines! She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter.  When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, 'Oh! My daughter! You have made me miserable and wretched, because I have made a vow to the Lord that I cannot break.'  'My father,' she replied, 'you have given your word to the Lord. Do to me just as you promised, now that the Lord has avenged you of your enemies, the Ammonites' " (Judges 11:30-31,34-36).

This almost unbelievable account shows that even immoral and irrational "vows" were considered to be of more importance than common sense and human life.  Rules were rules.  There were no exceptions.

"Stage Two" with legalism and concretism appeals to quite a few people.  Dualistic thinkers are eager to believe in absolute rights and wrongs.  They judge by external standards and this leads to a rule oriented ideology that requires no analysis or evaluation.  Also, the punishment and reward system is attractive to those who don't really want to be responsible.  Many uneducated groups, as well as individuals that are not autonomous and self-motivated may still need the structure of this stage.  To these very "matter of fact" people, symbolism is equated with pretense; myth is equated with fiction and allegory is equated with falsehood.  That's why they reject any suggestion that miracles may possibly be viewed as wonderful works, rather than supernatural events.

Groups that have definite overt requirements for membership are easier to understand than  those that expect individuals to make their own moral decisions.  Elements of stage two are responsible for the Seventh Day Adventist's insistence upon "Saturday worship"; the Church of Christ's emphasis on Baptism and the Lord's Supper; and the Baptist's strict taboos about women in leadership roles.

Churches at this level are prone to conflicts and splits because rules and formulas are of paramount importance.  There is little latitude for individual opinions.

At "Stage Two," interpretation of the major doctrines is very literal:

GOD is anthropomorphic or human-like.  He is pictured as a glorified man similar to Jesus Christ.

PRAYER is usually a monologue that includes a lot of requests and "bargaining" techniques.

SALVATION is obtained by fulfilling a prescribed formula.  People must believe certain tenets or perform certain rituals to abolish their sins and appease God's anger.

SIN is disobedience.  It involves "breaking the rules" through physical acts. 

VIRTUE is obedience.   It involves "keeping the rules."  Motives or mitigating circumstances are not considered relevant.  Everything is either "right or wrong."  Situational ethics is anathema.

IMMORTALITY is tied to a reward or punishment system.  Heaven is envisioned as a particular place with desirable "earthly" features such as golden streets and pearly gates.  Likewise, Hell is envisioned as a particular place with undesirable "earthly" features such as torturing fires and frightening darkness.

In order to minister to those who operate at this level, churches must:
1.  Encourage the memorization of Scriptures;
2.  Study and emphasize moral precepts;
3.  Use analogies to connect concrete events with deeper meanings;
4.  Teach basic psychological principles;
5.  Introduce new or abstract concepts carefully and slowly.
(WC1140)    To be Continued 02-014-05)

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Miles E Wesner