The Biblical Articles: Supplying Some Documentation

Now this is not a particularly pleasant conclusion. We don't like the notion that there is something radically wrong with us. We would much prefer to believe that the difficulty can be cured with a little tinkering. Surely the Bible isn't so pessimistic! But the Bible gives us little comfort if we try to escape from this conclusion. Take a brief run down.

Isaiah not only recognizes that he is a man of unclean lips, but acknowledges that he dwells among a people of unclean lips ( Isa. 6: 5). A later prophet points out that "all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment" ( Isa. 64:6). Jeremiah reminds us that "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately corrupt" ( Jer. 17:9). Nor is Jesus any easier on us. He reminds us that "out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness" ( Mark 7: 21, 22). The words he speaks to the Pharisees are addressed to all of us: "You are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness" ( Matt. 23: 27). He tells us, "When you have done all that is commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy servants'" ( Luke 17:10). Paul picks up the refrain, "None is righteous, no, not one" ( Rom. 3:10; see Ps. 14: 1, 2). Over and over again we are told that even our highest achievements are corrupted.

This is only a sampling. And it strikes a harsh note which we do not like. And yet this is the Biblical reading of our plight. Notice that it is not the case that we are as bad as we can be, for in that case we should not even know that we were bad. It is rather that we are something good that has been spoiled. So although we are made in the image of God, the "image" has become very badly distorted.

We can clarify this by a final insight from our mirror analogy. Rather than seeing our reflection in a perfect mirror, we now see our reflection as it appears in one of the mirrors at an amusement park. In such mirrors the glass is bent and the image is distorted. In one mirror we are two feet tall and three feet wide. In another we are nine feet tall and six inches wide. In a third we are just a blob of face, and mostly nose at that. The image has been distorted, twisted and spoiled, almost beyond recognition. That is the way we now stand in relation to God. The image of God in us has been distorted, twisted and spoiled, almost beyond recognition.