My Heart is a Horror Movie…I have to look away

Posted by Erik in Affections, Depravity, Faith, Sin on Jun 6th, 2007 | 5 responses

I have heard faith described as “the blessed gift of self-forgetfulness”.

Indeed faith is the divine gift of the ability to look away from ourselves. Nowhere is this more needed or vivid than at near mid-point of the third chapter of The Epistle of Paul to the Romans.

In the first two and a half chapters the Apostle Paul has chronicled the divinely chaperoned tour and appraisal of the human heart.

We learn that the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against us as humanity because we, in rebellion, “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (1.18), “do not honor Him as God or give thanks” (1.21), “exchange the glory of the incorruptible God” (1.23), “exchange the truth of God for a lie” (1.25), “are storing up wrath for the day of wrath” (2.5), are unrighteous (3.10), lacking understanding (3.11), not seeking God (3.11), not doing good (3.12), are useless (3.12), do not fear God (3.19) and are, with the rest of humanity, “under sin” (3.10).

The ultimate horror show is a person who is habitually engaged in the overt rebellion towards the King by stealing that which is most precious to him and then mocking, dishonoring, discrediting, undermining, and ignoring his righteous rule. This rebellion is characterized by a persistent attitude of fearless indifference. In natural human terms the type of person is a psychopath who seeks to satisfy his own twisted cravings. In a spiritual sense this type of person is every natural descendant of Adam.

So when we are introduced to reality through the revealed word of God we should be horrified. There is nothing that Hollywood can manufacture to equal the gruesome reality of the human heart. So in our true seeing of ourselves, based upon God’s clear presentation, we are, like the person freaked out by a horror movie, quick to avert our eyes, turning and looking away from ourselves.

This is precisely the point (when we are horrified by our sin) that God proceeds with the gospel. Notice how Romans continues:

Romans 3:19 ¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God;

The biblical presentation of the depravity of the human heart is intended to render humanity without excuse and in a posture of horrific condemnation.

This is a good model for evangelism. As long as folks are raising flags of self-righteousness through the assertion of “good” works, merit, religion, or relative goodness, then they are not ready to hear of how righteousness is revealed (cf. Romans 3.21ff.). As long as we are looking to ourselves to find righteousness we do not realize that we are deficient of righteousness and so obviously Christ Jesus who is sufficient righteousness will never be esteemed or treasured.

This is exactly what the Apostle Paul testified in Philippians three. He had all of his religious deeds divinely appraised and found that they amounted to rubbish. He quickly, upon the gracious realization that he was holding such a thing, dropped all manner of self-righteousness, and cried to God for a righteousness that comes not from himself but from God on the basis of faith (Phil 3.7-9).

If you are looking to yourself for righteousness than you are not a Christian. It is as simple as that. Christians glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh (Phil. 3.3). As Christians we are people who are overcome by our murderous hearts and delighted to avert our eyes from the filthy horror of our sin to fix our gaze solely upon Jesus Christ who is, “the Lord our Righteousness” (Jer. 23.6). It is here that horror is turned to delight.

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5 Responses to “My Heart is a Horror Movie…I have to look away”

wisecarver says:

June 6, 2007 at 3:07 pm

Scary indeed. Thank you for reminding us how we formally walked.
Nath @ Reformed Geek says:

June 6, 2007 at 6:16 pm

I think you raise an important point regarding evangelism. So often we can be too quick to share the good news of Jesus, throwing pearls amongst swine. Until the Holy Spirit has revealed the horror of our own heart, He has not yet prepared us for the gospel…
Nath @ Reformed Geek says:

June 6, 2007 at 6:17 pm

And off topic…did you create the graphic for the post? If you did it is very clever…
Seth McBee says:

June 6, 2007 at 8:13 pm

erik.
Great action…

The problem is that I fall into the trap of sometimes looking at my own works as basis for my faith instead of my faith being the basis of any outward work and the Holy Spirit for any inward work…this is the danger of the flesh…may I continue to repent and look upward…

I love Romans 3:19…just think, especially after reading through Habbakkuk, all of those wicked people literally told by God by His Law to “SHUT IT” and instead of their entire lives being able to rile against God, during judgment will not only shut up but also bend the knee to our Lord Jesus Christ…

I know my words come off as harsh…but I am saying a lot of this to myself, in my pride, that when I see my Lord, I will be stricken dumb because of His holiness…

yearning for His coming…
erik raymond says:

June 7, 2007 at 6:59 am

Seth- it may come off as harsh but not as harsh as us telling God to “Shut it!”

Nath-it is a manipulated picture, customized, if you will.