The greatest threat to the gospel is . . .

How would you complete this statement?

As I was reading, Jesus + Nothing = Everything by Tullian Tchividjian on Thursday, he filled in the blank.  You might be surprised by this answer.

He writes, "In fact, according to the Bible, the greatest threat to the gospel's advance in this world, and the greatest threat to gospel growth in your life and in mine, is a particular strain of idolatry that arises not from outside the church but from inside... The Bible makes it clear that the gospel's premier enemy is the one we often call "legalism." I like to call it performancism. Still another way of viewing it, especially in its most common manifestation in Christians is moralism."

Tchividjian explains legalism as "when what we need to do, not what Jesus has done, becomes the end game.  Are you guilty of this?  I know I am.  He continues with the following quote that steps on our toes, "We know it's wrong to worship immorality, like everybody out in the world seems to be doing; we find it harder to see that it's just as wrong to worship morality, like everybody in the church seems to be doing."

I am going to have to spend some more time reflecting on this chapter from the book.  It has a lot to think and pray about.  I am being changed daily by my better understanding of what the gospel and grace is.  One last quote to share with you as I end this post.  He writes, "The biggest lie about grace that Satan wants the church to buy is the idea that it's dangerous and therefore needs to be kept in check. . .The truth is, disobedience happens not when we think too much of grace, but when we think too little of it."