We Love God!

God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

Underlying causes of legalism: 1. Humanistic concept of self-control – “I’m in control of how things go.” 2. Humanistic concept of self-effort, “works” – trying, striving, “I can do it.” 3. False security needs for defined parameters, limitations, borders 4. Work-ethic concept of strict reciprocity – “Get what you work for” 5. Punitive concept of getting what one deserves 6. Traditionalism of maintaining status quo 7. Simplism of dividing life into compartments with instant solutions; fundamentalism. Got a handle on it – all figured out. Instant solutions – don't have to think or trust. 8. Fear of freedom, of decision-making responsibility (Rom. 8:15) 9. Security need for something that is fixed and static, concrete and tangible. Inordinate need to be safe and right 10. Favorite of sadomasochistic personalities; perfectionists, Pharisees.
James Fowler

I can remember when I was an undergraduate student, how enlightening it was to learn from William Temple that what the Bible means by sin is "self-centeredness." Let me tell you how Temple puts it in his great little book, Christianity in the Social Order. He says, "I am the center of the world I see. And where the horizon is depends on where I stand. Education may make my self-centeredness less disastrous by broadening my horizon of vision. It's like a man climbing a tower who sees further in terms of physical vision while remaining himself the center and the standard of reference. I am the center of the world I see." That's what the Bible means by sin. Luther talks about man curved in on himself. Malcolm Muggeridge talks about the dark little dungeon of my own ego. That is sin, a twist of self-centeredness that has us imprisoned. But God's order is that we love him with all our being, and then that we love our neighbor and put ourselves last. Sin is the reversal of the order.
John Stott