A discussion we just started over at my blog had me thinking a bit about human drives, and what they mean.
A drive is that natural inner compulsion in a direction, a
force that molds one's desires, choices, actions, aspirations. Men and women share many drives, while other drives are arguably more dominant in one sex than in the other.Particularly little girls seem to be moved by drives to connect, whilst boys are moved to compete, to lead.
Now here's where our understanding of the Biblical teaching of comprehensive depravity is so vitally important to understanding ourselves and others, including our children. Sin can take a good drive, corrupt it, and turn it to great evil.
Thus masculine drives to lead are corrupted into drives to intimidate, dominate, crush, and overcome. Feminine drives to connect can become drives to seduce and ensnare and control. Natural sexual drives' perversions are documented in the daily paper (and sanctioned in some courts), as are drives for significance or achievement.
All this serves to show us how deeply we need a great and comprehensive Savior.
The last thing we need is merely to be forgiven our past sins, but left under the thralldom of
corrupt drives. Nor are we helped if we are left unable to discern which drive is good, and which is evil. Our very hearts are sick and evil, and they deceive us (Jeremiah 17:9); in deceiving us, they turn our whole lives to sin's destruction (Proverbs 4:23).We need a Savior who will secure and provide forgiveness for all our sins, past and future. We need a Savior who will give us new hearts, freed from enslavement to our corrupting drives. We need a Savior who will teach us to discern the good from the bad, the Hellish from the Godward.
And such a Savior is Jesus Christ, and Him alone (Ezekiel 36:25-26; Colossians 2:13-14; John 8:31-32).
Wonderful to be able to point our children to such a Savior.
Wonderful to point ourselves to such a Savior.
13 comments:
"freed from enslavement to our corrupting drives."
Amen. Good words.
And the tempter likes to feed our drives, but:
"He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel."
"And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."
I just want to add one more line to your post... Wonderful to point the lost to such a savior.
True, Fred. I'm thinking of focusing more on that angle in another post.
(See, I'm trying to fight my drive to say absolutely everything that can be said in absolutely every post.)
Good post Dan! "Now here's where our understanding of the Biblical teaching of comprehensive depravity is so vitally important to understanding ourselves and others, including our children. Sin can take a good drive, corrupt it, and turn it to great evil."
The fact that sin can take a good drive, corrupt it, and turn it to great evil actually teaches that methods do matter! Fulfilling a good drive with an improper and unlawful manner (method) spoils the objective before you ever get to it!
The essence of sin is following and fulfilling selfish desires - "But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death (James 1:14-15).
Glory and honor to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior who not only forgives us of our sins but also upon whose shoulders the government of our lives rest.
Love the post Dan! Glory to Christ and His sufficiency.
Amen, Dude.
Great Dan! I kinda of like comprehensive depravity (like we needed another term to debate, sheesh!) Can I say comprehensive corruption, its an consonation compulsion creating cravings for crystal candy.
"Sin can take a good drive, corrupt it, and turn it to great evil." That really is what James was speaking to. The desires are not bad things, it is the desire to consume them not to the glory of God and the esteeming of others, but upon our selves. The idea that they bring glory to little narcissitic kingdoms we rule over is such Nebuchadneezer pridefulness.
Now, if that compulsion is reversed as it was with Paul, and pray God that it would be, we would be driven to the Gospel for the Gospel. What a glorious addiction!
Great post. I like Frank's addition, too.
Thus masculine drives to lead are corrupted into drives to intimidate, dominate, crush, and overcome. Feminine drives to connect can become drives to seduce and ensnare and control.
Yep.
Well said.
I've been reminded lately that even our passion and zeal for Christ and for souls can be turned into a sinful drive. Even to the point that we begin to question how God is or isn't working. This is a very dangerous place to be in.
PastorJeff-
I think that is what David had in mind in Psalm 139 and 51. Our God is a consuming fire and without applying the Word of God to our our predicament, our own depravity, the Gospel becomes merely a way of boasting upon ourselves and remains an addictive concupiscence.
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