A mentor of mine is fond of reminding me that he is a skilled sinner in his own right. “I am a perfectly able sinner on my own, Jon,” he says, “I don’t have anyone else to blame for it.”
Reminders like this are usually prompted by a turn in our conversation toward some unfortunate circumstance, a struggle with temptation, or even our culture’s capacity for wrongdoing. Whichever one of these discourses it might be, this mentor of mine often owns up to his own sin.
It’s a reality check.
The place that most of us point to as the source of our sin is usually anywhere but our hearts, isn’t it? Sometimes we blatantly point elsewhere; other times, we are more subtle. We might not point the big blame-finger directly at other people or situations. Instead, we deceitfully identify with and internally focus on those wretched outside “causes” or triggers that led us astray.
Jesus tells us another story. He informs us of the true source and cause of our sin:
“What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All of these evil things come from within, and they defile a person” —Mark 7:20-23 (emphasis added)
Did you catch that?
“…from within…”
“…out of the heart of man…”
Sin comes out of us. Its roots are grown from the heart of man. My heart. And yours.
Sure, when assessing the roots of our sin, we can certainly consider the choice of friends we surround ourselves with, the situations we find ourselves in, the upbringing that shaped us, or the social and cultural atmosphere that is often intertwined with our sin. This assessment is wise, and it can help us avoid falling into temptations.
Yet, in order for our eyes to lay hold of the tangible grace of God—in how he forgives sin, inspires repentance, and regenerates us—we have to call the soil of sin’s roots for what it is: our own hearts.
3 Comments on "Soil for Sinful Roots"
Wow Jon. Great post brother. What a sobering reminder. A greatest for me to start off my day realizing my desperate need for grace. Thanks man.
Humbling reminder for sure.
That’s my baby, I don’t mean maybe… A constant reminder that there is always work to be done, and that we need God’s mercy and grace in all minutes of the day. Thanks beloved. So glad to be entering a marriage in a few months with you, a marriage filled with constant accountability and room for growth.