It's been said by Derek Webb that, "The best thing that could happen to any of us[christians] is that our sins be exposed on the 5-O-clock news." I understand why now. As Christians so many of us tend to really think and pretend that we aren't in sin, we hide from ourselves that we can't save ourselves, we don't let ourselves or others grieve when we fall. This causes all sorts of confusion in us though, because we sense how wretched we are. Either way, as Christians we should have a sense of moral despair, an hatred of sins and such an understanding that we live in them that we become sick. We should despair that despite our greatest efforts that we can't even do what we were made to do, to please God. So matter how good I try to be, I'm just bad. Without faith in God, without Christ's righteousness the best thing I do is rags, filthy rags. This should cause in the Christian a sense of despair, despair even deeper than the despair caused by hardening your heart to your sins, that's nagging, like a rock in your shoe. The despair a deep understanding of my sin brings about is more like being shot, discovering that you have terminal cancer, or leaning on the phone at a truck stop to hear that a loved one is dead. As Christians we should understand the gravity of our actions against God and despair, because of our selves we're dead as dead can be, suicidally harming ourselves and others, fighting a Judge who loves you but will punish harshly if you aren't pardoned. I mentioned an exercise that involves writing down your sins and confessing them to God, perhaps this can bring about moral despair in your life. Carrying a cross isn't pleasant at all, but being crucified and raised with God is the only way he appointed for us to be with Him. Understanding that you've already hit rockbottom is the only way we can know where we are.
coming soon Christianity Part 2: Moral Happiness
