We are currently living in a time when people are being told the way to get help, solve problems, get answers, find solutions, and overcome emotional hang-ups is by enrolling in some "self help" class or by employing "life coaches" or by enlisting the help of "life statergists" failing that they encourage us to attend some "personal development" seminar. (unquote)
All good and well: Strictly speaking from the point of pragmatic and postmodern thinking ...with its practical approach to solving life's issues and problems.
Only one problem though? it often excludes God and the Word of God as being the pragmatic solution - to mankind's ills.
Mmmm.
And whilst life coaches and other well meaning stategists may offer assistance and practical advice to life's problems. In the long run and the long haul...this doesnt solve the problem of fallen creatures - given to Sin!
............................................................
Indeed Mankind's real problem: dare i say it - Is Sin !!
This in spite of what well meaning experts tell us - instructing people to seek out counselors or enroll in some "self help" course and then hey presto you will be a changed person for the rest of your life! well So they say! and tell us!
To declare that Sin is the real reason for societies woes - well its just plain not popular and is actually thought to be an unsatisfactory answer. Especially to a "postmodern culture" where "everthing has to be relative" depending on your own point of view - and how you personally see things.
But friends when push comes to shove we dare not deviate or waver one iota from proclaiming that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save Sinners"
And the chief cause behind wrong, behind error, and evil is Sin! and the chief cause behind societies ills...is iniquity! And our tresspassing and transgressing of God's laws - is where we go wrong ...reaping what we sow!
But As bible believing fundamental evangelical christians we must positively affirm that the chief cause of mans ills and problems is - "Sin" yes Sin in all its nakedness, deformity, and inglorious ways...
In all of its treachery and treason...
"For all have sinned - and fallen short of God's glory"
But we are living in a time when culture and postmodern thinking has "other names" for sin. For example people say this person doesnt have a problem with lying, instead he is given to exeggerating and distorting the truth! or this person and doesnt have a problem with booze (drunkeness ) instead he has an addictive personality! or that person does not have a problem with tempation to sin ...he has an impulse control disorder. And troubled teens are not promiscuous - they suffer from neglected childhoods.
But We candy coat and sugar coat the underlying real reason ... but that reason - still stands as being - the reason of Sin! But there again it is not popular to mention the "S" word as the root cause of bad behaviour. Mmmm.
However, having said all this I certainly do not negate or dispute outside or internal factors as contributing factors! but when its all said and done and after all the post mortems are carried out - as to why people go astray or behave badly. The Bible still puts it down to one thing??
We are fallen creatures ....with ...fallen natures.
With a Sin problem.
That's the bottom line!!
Contrary to what the analysts or experts tell us.
And As far as im concerned they can analyse and dissect human behaviour all they want.
But when push comes to shove the bible still declares "all we like sheep have gone astray" and "there is none righteous no - not one"
The fact is: We are all sinners in need of a saviour and no permanent change can come about in human behaviour, until a man is born again of the spirit of God! or until he becomes a new creation - in Christ Jesus.
And All of the "self-help" and "how to" books (as good and helpful as some of them it might be)however none of these will effect "permanent change" or change that lasts in human behaviour!
The only way mankind can be reformed and changed permanently - is by the putting on - of Christ
Effectively this is the only thing that works...
And it works because God goes after the root of the problem: And that root is "Sin" ...and that root is a heart in need of change! in need of a remedy!
Indeed God cleans up a man: from the inside/out.
This effects permanent and lasting change because man's fallen condition is addressed at it's core problem! And IT ALL BEGINS WITH THE HEART!!!
The truth is man can never be good enough or effect permanent change -that meets or measures up to God's standard.
This is why he (God) sent his Son Jesus to die in our place and enabling us thereby to take on the righteousnes of God (In christ Jesus) because man (in and of himself) will never be good enough to be accepted - By God.
The truth is: there is not a scrap, or ounce, or lick of Goodness in any of us ...according to the scriptures.
The bible says: all your righteousness is as filthy rags...
The bible declares we are all as an "unclean thing"
This is the whole truth of the matter that Christ Jesus needed to come into the world - to die for sinners! of which - is all of us (period/full stop)
No amount of vows to be good or effect change through the power of human will - will work or last!
As The good that we do - we allow not! (and)
And The evil we would not - that do we.
This is what the bible says is "the law of sin and death"
Working in our members to produce ...death
Furthermore another big reality check: is This: "the human heart at the best of times is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" (desperately wicked)
Therefore How can self help classes and pop psycology cure the innate sin problem - and problem of fallen nature?
I ask you??
The bible has already declared that our hearts are bent on Sin ...bent on doing wrong...and crooked beyond measure.
O' wretched men: that we are: who can deliver us from this body of death?? who can save us? and what can save us? I thank God through Christ Jesus our Lord! As he died to save sinners- and to deliver us from the power of sin!!!
And when you think about it every human endeavour and intention by mortal man to be good or to live right or to do well -stay out of trouble - stay free from mischief! can only be likened to the man (to use an analogy) who spends all day buiding a sandcastle for his Son at the beach. Only for someone thoughtless and careless individual to come along - and trample on his son's castle - and knock it down.
This is likened to the problem of man trying to be good enough without the transforming power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It just plain doesnt work! neither will it work. In fact it can't.
We need the righteousness of Christ (is what we need) because our righteousness will never be good enough! in spite of how many "life coaches" and self improvement seminars - we attend - seeking answers.
No! the cold hard facts remain in spite of what postmodernism teaches and would have us believe - to the contrary No "mankind is a Sinner" he is also lost - and in need of saving - and in need of a saviour. Badly (full stop)
What are the facts? well without controversy " Christ Jesus came into the world to save those sinners" what is the truth? " Sin entered the world by one man, and death by sin; and so death has paased onto all men, for in that...all have sinned" ( and so now - do - all men - die )
What is the truth? Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day.
And We now live in that same hope - of life.
When its all said and done: the underlying root cause to man's plight! his errors, his wayward behavior and his crooked depraved ways and his dark fallen condition and sheer blindness of heart...which blindness mind you is a blindness caused by a desire to serve sin - and a love for the things of this World.
TO sum: We cannot blame "dysfunction" or some "psychosis" Nor can we really blame things on neglected chilhoods or parental abuse.(though these things might be contributing factors) however, we must stay with what the bible teaches.(and as narrow as that might sound to postmodern thinking) The facts are: Mankind goes astray because of one thing! and one thing only? "Sin" yes a heart that is bent on sinning! and therefore no band aid solution or sugar coating of the facts will eliminate this all powerful, convincing, and convicting bible packed - truth.
" That all have sinned and come short of God's glory"
"What is man's real problem? In a word "Sin"
Thanks for reading the post
God be with you all. Amen.
