I am not a Good Person

I am in the process of reading Embracing the Love of God by James Bryan Smith as part of the "Wheaton Passage" program that I will be participating in August 14-23. On page 31 of this book, Smith brings to light a huge error in thinking that Christians have made:

"Today, we live the lie that we are 'pretty good' people who occasionally 'make mistakes.' The Christian doctrines of original sin and of human depravity have been replaced by a philosophy of original goodness and human potential. G.K. Chesterton noted, 'Certain theologians dispute original sin, which is the only part of Christian theology which can really be proved.'

We want to excuse our behavior and pretend that we are basically good and decent. I have noticed how shocked and horrified people are at their own sinfulness. In the midst of a confession I will often hear people say, 'How could I have done such a thing?' Understanding our nature, 'How could I not?' is the better question.

In his poem, 'As the Ruin Falls,' C.S. Lewis wrote, 'I have never had a self-less thought since I was born.' Even at our best, Lewis believed, we are selfish. Our most noble acts, our highest virtues, are still tainted with self-interest."

This passage is loaded with truth. In the society that we live in, how we see oursleves is of great importance. As a result, even in the Church, we like to sweep our depravity under the rug and consider oursleves to be "good people." The reality is that we are sick, sinful people from birth and we are in desperate need of a savior. We may not like to think of ourselves as dependent on somebody else, but that does not change the reality that we are completely lost outside of Christ. Until we embrace the fact that are evil beings in need of the love of Jesus Christ, we are riding a fast-track to destruction.