A constant struggle in the Baird household is making our oldest daughter (Addie Leigh) stay in bed. Tonight she got out of bed four (make that five) times. We disciplined her three times, and talked with her each time. I explained to her that by getting out of bed she was being disobedient, but even worse, she didn't trust me. When she gets out of bed she believes that by getting out of bed it will be better for her than if she obeys me and stays in bed. Here we have a little atheist in the making. Wanting to "do what is right in her own eyes." I asked her who knew what was better for her... Addie or daddy? To which she responded (rightly) "daddy." Maybe it was just lip service, but at least she knew the right answer.
As parents it is our job to instill confidence (in us as parents) in our children so that obedience becomes a matter of trust.
Ok, so while you're thinking about how your kids don't trust you, I'm going to throw it back in your (my) own face. Think about how many times that we, by our actions, disbelieve God. We think that by lying on our resume (don't try to get sophisticated on me and say you are embellishing), or covering up our mistake at work, or eating those two (or four) extra donuts, or (men) lingering a little longer at the Victoria's Secret store, or (women) watching the soap opera or reading the trashy romance novel, that somehow by doing these things, we will be better off than if we take God at His word when He says "do not lie," or when He says "do not be a glutton", or when He says that there shouldn't even be a hint of sexual immorality among us (I need Scott Dunn to help me construct this extremely long sentence properly). All sin can be traced back to the root of unbelief. We don't take God at His word and believe that by sinning we will be better off than trusting and obeying God. When are you (am I) going to grow up and believe our Father?
Friday, December 5, 2008
Addie's Evil Heart of Unbelief
Posted by JB at 10:35 PM
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5 comments:
Grammar you did correct right. Me like what you done.
Scott
The heading of this post disturbs me greatly. A three year old does not have knowledge of evil. We are all born into this world needy; a baby needs to be fed, warm and cared for. As a child grows, he or she has to be taught that his or her wants are not the same as needs. I'm afraid that most of us never outgrow the desire to satisfy ourselves, but also most of us learn to live with and relate to others.
We all know that we never in this life completely overcome our selfish nature, but through the grace of God we can continue to grow toward that goal.
Christ said (paraphrase) Why are you calling me good; there is no one good except the Father.
It is also said that we all have fallen short of the glory of God.
However---I lean heavily on the King James version of Genesis 1:27
"So God created man in his own image...."and Genesis 2:7 ".........and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul"
If man is created in the image of God, how can man be completely evil? I do not believe that is so.
We are weak, and selfish, and not in tune with God as we should be, but through God's grace, we can overcome this and do good things.
In spite of some of the terrible things we see, there are also many examples of people acting out of love and concern for others.
I confess--I pick the parts of the scripture that speak to me, but they speak loudly.
I like the description that you gave of your reaction to the title, it disturbs me too. Addie was just an illustration. I am constantly reminded of the indwelling sin I live with on a day to day basis, I am very disturbed. My main point is that "sin" at it's root is unbelief in the promises of God. The sooner we understand our predicament and our proclivity toward sinful unbelief the sooner we can fight against it and flee to the Resting Place.
As far as children having no "knowledge of evil" I'm not sure exactly what you mean here, but all children are born sinners, this is before they have their first evil thought. We eventually sin because we are sinners and that's what we do. I'm sure Jesus cried as a baby, and did the same things that all babies do. He "grew in wisdom and discernment" just as we. But there is a fundamental difference between Jesus and us. He did not sin, He did not let His Father down. He believed the promises of God until the very end. In all the ways that I have failed, He has not, which is why I can hope in Him, trust in Him, and cast myself on Him.
Yes we were created good, and I like the first two chapters of the Bible as well, but upon reading the other 258 chapters, it doesn't paint a very rosy picture of us. We are "dead in our trespasses and sins" Ephesians 2:1,
* Mark 7:21-23 - "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man." (c.f. Matthew 15:19)
* Psalm 5:9 - There is nothing reliable in what they say; their inward part is destruction itself. Their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.
# Jeremiah 17:9 - "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?"
# Ecclesiastes 9:3 - the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the dead.
# Matthew 15:19 - "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders." (c.f. Mark 7:21-23)
# Genesis 6:5 & 8:21 - Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually... from youth.
# Psalm 36:1-2 - Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. For it flatters him in his own eyes concerning the discovery of his iniquity and the hatred of it.
-Ouch, the truth hurts!
Are we as bad as we can possibly be? No, thankfully God restrains us, but in our fallen state nothing any of us do is ultimately pleasing to God- Romans 14:23-But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
Hebrews 11:6-And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
I'm just saying that it is better to have a realistic understanding of human nature than an overly optimistic understanding. I'm not smart enough to pick the parts of the Bible that speak the loudest to me, I just let all of it speak as loudly as it will, and where I find tension give it the benefit of the doubt.
Let me be a woman for a second and say OH SWEET ADDIE! I LOVE THAT PICTURE!
Jon, I think there's something to be said for the condition of our hearts under the new covenant. In my own life it has been very hard to reconcile my theology and my reality, especially consirning depravity. (For instance, when my nonbelieving friends do something good. What do I make of that? They are indeed good people with charitable hearts. They have morals they strive to maintain and they are compassionate and helpful toward one another.)
Is it possible that we can make too much of "total depravity"? Or is it possible that we sometimes swerve too far to the right or the left when teaching certian doctrines instead of striving for the balance that wholeness of Scripture would offer?
Hey Chuck, would you mind spell checking this for me?
:) I'm kidding. That would take too long.
Kristen
I have a red headed comment too, though I really need to update her blog. Found your site because I knew Scott A.
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