As we move on to see just how far the teaching of a true theocentric God as opposed to an egocentric view will take us, we can immediately see the continual problem that the sin of pride brings. If the purest view of Christianity is that which has a God-centered God at its very core and the branches from that core are from the same God-centered God, then we can see how the slightest deviation from that will have an effect on the core and all the branches. Pride always looks to self first and foremost rather than God. Pride always decides based on how things influence what appears to be good for self. Pride is the inflated view of self that blinds the human soul to sin and makes it hate the truth of the God-centered God. In other words, pride is what opposes the true God and the truth about Him. It is pride that is at enmity with the true God and His God-centeredness. Human beings in their fallen state of self-exaltation and self-centeredness want God to be all about them. Human beings will love God as long as they think He loves them since sinners love those who love them.
“There is no single aspect of religion which may not bear the marks of egocentricity or theocentricity, according as the one or the other of these constitutes the fundamental character of the religious relationship…The two types of religion we have described, it is clear, stand in the sharpest opposition to one another. In their purest forms they would be mutually exclusive. But in actual practice they rarely appear in their purity. As we have already said, all religions show at least some traces of the theocentric motif; and we may add that even the most theocentric of all religions has been unable, in the course of its history, to escape the influence of man’s natural tendency to adapt everything to his own point of view. The history of Christianity is a story of continuous conflict between the two contrasted tendencies.” (Let God Be God! An Interpretation of the Theology of Martin Luther)
It is interesting to reflect on how different two Arminians and then two Calvinists can be from each other, even thought they have the same theological slant, depending on their deepest belief of God. Even though two people have the same theological system in a sense they will be miles apart from each other if their underlying belief about God is different. The greatest difference between two people is if one is man-centered and the other worships a God that is God-centered. The difference is still great when one has what s/he thinks is a high view of God and yet thinks of that God as being great because of what that God does for man and the other person thinks of the greatness and glory of God in awe and wonder because God is God-centered.
It was because of a defective view of God that many men had that drove men like John Owen and Christopher Ness to fight Arminianism tooth and nail. Jonathan Edwards wrote that even the unconverted people in his church dreaded to hear of Arminianism making inroads because they saw it as the hand of God being removed. The real issue, however, was not sectarianism or theological prejudice as such, but instead it was over the nature of God. This was the driving issue that was underneath many of the older Calvinists. B.B. Warfield said that a Calvinist was a man that had seen God. He did not say that it was a man that believed a confession or espoused certain points but that it was a man that had seen God.
The point that I am driving at is that the real issue of Christianity and Calvinism is located in the heart. It is a drive that comes from the living God that gives man a love for Him and His glory. The opposite of that drive is the heart that is full of pride and self. That is where the battle is. As the quote above says, “even the most theocentric of all religions has been unable, in the course of its history, to escape the influence of man’s natural tendency to adapt everything to his own point of view.” While Calvinism has its history in a thorough God-centeredness, it has not always been the case since the Reformation and it is not the case today. The versions of Calvinism that seem to be rampant are split in differing versions. There is the academic Calvinism which wants everything to fit the academic model. Then there is the watered down Calvinism in which the adherents want to be Calvinists but still hang on to their traditions. Then there is the version that loves to be part of something different and shock people. But at the heart of those three versions, and there are assuredly others, is pride. The academic Calvinist is proud of his or her learning. Knowledge makes arrogant (I Cor 8:1). The watered down version is the person that wants to hang on to some tradition or practice with the veneer of Calvinistic doctrine in order to still fit in with others. This is pride in what amounts to the love of applause or the love of man. The third version that wants to shock others is really pride that wants the attention or honor of others. These are all aspects of pride that takes the heart out of Calvinism or a true love for the God that is God-centered. It is all still centered on self. That is pride.
God Loves... Himself 
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