Despite Taming Much of the World, We Still Can’t Tame Ourselves
The overarching problem with science, economics, and any other discipline set on taming the world is not that we cannot make progress in subduing the natural world. It is that we are unable to tame our own hearts.
Apart from Christ
Apart from Christ, we are left with a futile undertaking. We self-destructively become our own hinderance to ruling the earth. As long as man is a slave to sin at the very core of his being, his every attempt to bring order to the world is ultimately twisted by greed, a loveless heart, and a lack of self-control to serve his own chaotic purposes.
Cunning Offense, No Defense
A prime example: We can come up with elaborate economic theories and a complex banking system complete with regulatory oversight, but we cannot rid ourselves of the greed in the hearts of men that strewed the economic landscape with the wreckage of failed corporations. In the aftermath, we find ourselves asking if we have control at all. And if we do have control, what do we have control of? Certainly not our hearts. Despite our cunning offenses, we have no defense against the treachery of our own hearts apart from salvation in Jesus Christ.
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The very people who will resist your post and idea will, I bet, never affirm the total depravity of the human heart.
This is not a critique against them, but merely a suggestion that we have our work cut out for us…because not even all Christians embrace the wretchedness of man..and so we have the Moral Right and Religious Republicans spinning their wheels because they believe that if you pass the right legislation you will get the results you want.
John MacArthur keeps his distance from politics for this very reason–he doesn’t believe pastors roles are to recommend laws or poll his people, but shepherd sheep and reach the lost with the only mechanism that will change a person–the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Laws are good, but Christ went to the heart, where true obedience originates.
Great post, Daniel.
Demian, thank you for bringing up the doctrine of the total depravity of man. That different starting point is key, and one I forgot to mention in the post. Danced all around it but never said it clearly. Hence the value of insightful readers…(and amen to your comment about the Christ changing the heart, origin of the obedience laws seek to bring. Mind if I do a follow up post on that one?)
The post was a bit of prep for leading a small group guys who have circled up at the UAB School of Business. We are going to start coming together twice a month to discuss the connection and application to our faith and beliefs to our varies fields of study. A different guy will kick off the discussion each meeting.
Adding your group at UAB to my prayer list.
Keep the good post coming, Bro!
Al, you can give me no greater gift. Thank you.