the heart of legalism

Does wrong doctrine pervert our understanding of truth or does our natural propensity towards a lie make us susceptible to wrong doctrine i.e. which comes first, a natural inclination to rebellious distrust and independence from God - wanting to be "our own god" - or teaching that leads us in that direction?

We are drawn to anything that appeals to our natural inclination to be our own savior, deliverer, or god. In a word, we prefer independence to ¹dependence, performance to grace, i.e. a wage to a gift. Legalism is merely a disposition and manifestation of what is already in our hearts. It is our attempt to save ourselves; to prove our worth and make ourselves acceptable to God through our efforts, i.e. "good deeds." 

Legalistic teaching may reinforce independence, but it doesn't create it. To use the language of Genesis, it is the desire to be "our own god" that our first parents embarked on that is the problem. We - humanity - have been on this same path ever since.

In our present state of rebellion, we are naturally inclined to be our own god. Legalism doesn't cause this; it is the other way around; our fallen state is naturally drawn to it i.e. I can make all things right with God by doing right for God.

This is why any current organization or form of God's community - be it a local church or a "para-church" organization - may start well, with a sound grasp of grace, but over time slip into a performance-based enterprise. This was the very problem the church in Galatia had and why Paul wrote his letter to them. Something starting well does not mean it automatically continues well or ends well. 

I think the reason we are instructed to revisit the last supper via communion is specifically to counter this inclination - though, ironically, we also turn this very reminder of grace (or any other prescribed practice) into a performance-based means of self-righteousness i.e. look at me and what a great Christian I am. I regularly take communion. This further confirms legalism is more a heart than a head issue.

We must always be reminded our good standing with God is solely based on what Christ did for us, not what we do for God. We must always be on guard for legalism's encroachment because our hearts already naturally and continually gravitate towards it. Not simply the teaching of legalism but the spirit of it. 

Legalism is more an attitude or disposition rooted in not "knowing" - i.e. believing - the gospel of grace than a teaching. Any organization that starts with a good grasp of the gospel must continuously be reminded of it e.g. regular communion. Grace is simply contrary to how our distrusting hearts are naturally inclined to approach God. 

The expression "upside-down" gospel is an indication of how contrary we are to it e.g. To find our life we must lose it, to live we must die. This is the very opposite of how the world pursues life. 

Our inclination towards performance and away from grace is so deep, subtle and pervasive this showed up at the very beginning of the early church. The promotion of a performance-based approach to God was common enough that Paul had to call a local body of believers back to the foundational message of grace on several occasions. Many of Paul's letters touch on this problem. The letter to the Galatians was written primarily for this very reason. We do well to study this letter and others to be sure we are on the path of grace. 

For a discussion on living by grace click here

For a discussion on why grace is constantly needed, not just at conversion click here.

For a discussion on the value and importance of the law click here.

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Footnote:

¹the irony is this posture of dependence is actually a basic aspect of the very essence of God's being. God Himself, by virtue of being three persons in one being, is an interdependent being.

However, it is a dependence not on others outside of the Godhead but within Himself, which makes Him independent of all other beings or things. He is independent of needing anyone or thing outside Himself because he is interdependent within Himself as a truine being. For more on this, click here.