The Lutheran Hour
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"Every Heart Produces Evil"
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Text: Matthew 15:10
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PRAYER: Almighty and everlasting God, You do not deal with us as we deserve. We are sinners, basically corrupt and inherently rebellious. O Lord, by Your mercy and through the merits of Jesus Christ Your Son, save us from the condemnation of our own sin. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
On April 20, 1999, the world was shocked to learn that two high school students in Littleton, Colorado had massacred 13 of their classmates. Almost immediately after the tragedy was reported to the press, people began wringing their hands and asking the question: “What would cause young people to carry out such a bloody carnage?” “Was there something wrong with them?” “Were these boys inherently evil?” “Were they born that way?”
On April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh parked a truck near a large government building in Oklahoma City. He then detonated this Ryder truck filled with explosives. This huge blast killed 168 innocent people. Again, people asked in anguish and anger, “Why did he do this?” “Was he sane?” “Was he normal, or was he totally evil?”
In trying to explain this situation, Newsweek consulted with several experts. One journalist wrote that McVeigh was not a man but an evil monster. By killing so many innocent people McVeigh was “evil incarnate” and even Satan himself. “There is a reason,” the author said, “that we need to understand McVeigh this way.” Finally, the Newsweek journalist said, “Doing this permits us to place McVeigh in a category labeled ‘Evil’ with a capital ‘E’ and also in a category labeled ‘not us.'”
But not all people agree with this evaluation. No one, of course, denies McVeigh committed a horrendous crime. But there are some pretty reputable people who maintain that McVeigh is not unique. Psychiatrist Robert I. Simon, director of the program of Psychiatry and Law at the Georgetown University says, “Most of us have the capacity for horrific evil. The capacity for evil is universally human. And, ‘within us all are the roots of evil.'”
Actually one does not need to read psychiatric studies to learn each of us has the capacity for horrific evil. In the Bible Jesus states, “Out of the heart comes evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders” (Matthew 15:19).
Indeed those acquainted with the basic teachings of the Bible are not surprised that people do horrible things. This has been going on in every generation and in every century. In the first book of the Bible we read, “God saw the wickedness of man was great and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5).
Jeremiah the prophet echoes the words of Genesis when it says, “The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9).
No, it has never been easy for any generation to accept the Biblical teaching that deep within each of us is the potential for horrific evil. Oh, yes, each of us may reluctantly admit we sin occasionally. However, not one of us wants to sincerely admit our heart is desperately “evil.” Oh indeed, we may reluctantly admit that we fail occasionally in our relationships with our family, marriage, or with our friends. However, we don’t see these sins as all that serious. But listen to this and see whether it might apply to you! The Bible says, “All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them” (1 John 3:15).
Have you ever “hated” anyone? Has anyone ever “crossed” you and made you so angry you wished you’d never see them again? Well, listen again to what the Bible says. “Whoever hates a brother or a sister are murderers.” This is tough medicine for each of us to swallow. But this is the Word of the Lord.
A number of years ago I was employed by a college. I was a junior professor of literature. What I discovered at that point in my life I will never forget. Many of the major and respected writers of world literature weave throughout their works that man by nature is depraved. Writers such as Mark Twain, Conrad, Dostoevsky, and others, through literature, point out powerfully how mean and even murderous each one of us can be. However, none of these famous writers have an answer for the problem of the evil that lies deep within us.
And so the question is this: How can our tendency, our proclivity toward evil thoughts and evil deeds, be checked? In this life, you and I will never be able to rid ourselves of evil thoughts and sinful desires. However, through His life-giving Word, God’s sin cleansing spirit enters your heart and soul, then there will be a change. This fundamental change begins through God’s miraculous power of baptism.
After explaining in the Bible, in Romans chapter 6, how God unites us to Christ and to Himself in baptism, the Apostle Paul also explains that we need no longer be “slaves to sin.” Even, of course, after we are baptized, the devil will continue to tempt us. However, he can no longer control us. As a result of baptism, St. Paul says in Romans 6:11, “Consider yourself dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ.”
Again, St. Paul gives all baptized people that Good News of God when as a result of God’s miracle of baptism, he says, “Thanks be to God. Though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart, and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness. Now, having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification and the outcome eternal life.” “For the wages of sin is death” the Bible says “but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:20-23).
Indeed the message of the Bible is clear. Each of us is infected with spiritual cancer. Each of us daily has evil thoughts. Each of us has the potential to do horrific evil. And yet the Good News is that God in His grace provides us in His miraculous gift of baptism a medicine to break the back of the dominating power of sin.
So your tendency for evil thoughts and actions can be likened to an incurable disease. You can’t cure it. However, through certain medicine you can keep sin in check. The power of sin may affect you but it can no longer dominate and control your life. This is also why St. Paul says in Romans 6 that as a result of God’s gift of baptism working in you “Sin shall not be master over you” (Romans 6:14).
Last April 2, Business Week magazine carried an article about a convicted swindler named Ron Cohen. Cohen ran a sophisticated scheme of using other people’s money for his own gain. And, according to Business Week, Cohen ran the “biggest Ponzi scheme the city of Dallas has ever known.” This same magazine then further explained Cohen “didn’t do this once but three times.” Each time he went to prison. Each time he came out — only to start the whole scam over again, sometimes re-seducing the same investors. Cohen says he “finally accepted he was an alcoholic,” got psychological counseling, and started taking Prozac.
Cohen’s problem may sound a bit sensational. But it’s the same tendency we all have. Maybe we are not always tempted with money. Sometimes we are tempted to harmful gossip, and sometimes we are tempted to play the lottery. Maybe we are tempted to step on others to get our way. But no matter what the situation is we all have this evil tendency deep in our soul that wants to take over our thinking and dominate our life. This is what St. Paul, even when he was a Christian, was talking about when he confessed: “That which I am doing, I do not understand. I am not practicing what I would like to do but I am doing the very thing I hate. So now, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.” For I know St. Paul honestly confessed that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the wishing to do good is present in me, but the [ability for] doing of the good is not. The good that I wish, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not wish.
Listen to what Paul says, “If I am doing the very thing . . .I do not wish, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.” Consequently, in spiritual despair St. Paul finally cries out, “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:15ff).
Oh, indeed the apostle knew the only answer is in Jesus. And the answer for you, friends, is also only in the death and the resurrection of Jesus.
You see, according to the Bible, Romans chapter 6, when God through His miracle of baptism unites you to Jesus, God unites you also into Jesus’ death. This means that because Jesus, through His death on the cross, broke the back of sin and then proclaimed victory over sin, death, and the devil, when you are united with Jesus you receive these same blessings. Baptism breaks the back of the power of sin. Sin can still tempt you but it cannot control you. Indeed, as St. Paul says, thanks be to God for that great spiritual medicine of help and hope in Jesus Christ.
So the next time you learn of horrible events such as Littleton or Oklahoma City, don’t point the finger of self-righteousness. Remember, as the Bible says and as even secular authorities admit, the potential for horrific evil exists in each of us. But thanks be to God — for it is through being united to His death that we overcame the power of sin and it is through His resurrection that we receive the blessed assurance of new life.
Let me now close with the beautiful words the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Colossae:
“If you,” Paul says “have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, and not on the things on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore, consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed [and instead, alive to Jesus Christ].”
O Lord, we pray today that for those who feel overwhelmed and dominated by the power of sin in their life, the sin of hatred or gossip or whatever. Lord, enable these people to look to Jesus to receive His forgiveness and experience a liberating new life of help and hope. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & answers) for July 22, 2001 “Every Heart Produces Evil” 68-46
ANNOUNCER: I’m Mark Eischer. Dr. Schulz, today you talked about the Biblical teaching, the doctrine that we are all by nature inherently defective and sinful. You also mentioned this teaching is not very widely accepted. In fact, many people find it repulsive. Why is that?
SCHULZ: Well, Mark, I think first of all it’s natural for all of us to consider ourselves really, pretty good people. This is simply our self-evaluation. But there’s another factor that comes in a very powerful way concerning this subject.
ANNOUNCER: And what is that?
SCHULZ: Well, we have in our society, from the print and broadcast media, and even much of the teaching that goes on in major universities, this idea that mankind is inherently good. We are willing to say we may have some defects, but if we simply change or improve the environment, we will also improve the person or maybe even mankind itself.
ANNOUNCER: But you don’t believe that?
SCHULZ: Well, ultimately, it does not depend on what I believe or what somebody else might believe. The key is what the Bible teaches. Let me also mention that some of the greatest writers of literature and history have pointed out graphically and powerfully and compellingly man’s total depravity. You cannot be a scholar of world literature and not notice this. However, again, this is not what we Christians base our thinking on or our life on. We are established, or shall I say, God establishes us in our faith on His Word. Therefore, the scriptures say in the book of Ephesians and in other places that we are not only spiritually dead, but we are actually fighting against God. We have no potential whatsoever to be positive or to be good.
ANNOUNCER: But when you tell someone they are, by nature, blind, dead, and the enemy of God, doesn’t that set up a barrier or an impediment for them to hear the Gospel.
SCHULZ: Well, I suppose this is true. It’s been that way in the past and it will continue in the future. But you see, without a sincere understanding of our depravity or total sinfulness, and especially our inability to do anything to save ourselves, we are not going to look to the cross of Christ for salvation. We will then act like a drowning person who does not look to the lifeguard or some rescuing ship, but rather, this foolish drowning person hangs onto his own wet T-shirt. Therefore, only when you know your condition — when you’re totally lost and drowning in sin, can you be saved from the outside. A clear understanding of the depravity of man and our sinful condition is closely tied to the biblical teaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
ANNOUNCER: And what is the bottom line?
SCHULZ: Well, for the bottom line today, I’m going way out on thin ice on this one. I’m going to take great liberty in explaining this with an analogy. Let’s say you are painting a house. Unless you have a clean surface, the paint is not going to stick very well. Or let’s use a better analogy. If a person or even an animal is not hungry, or is not aware of their hunger, they are not going to seek food and will simply starve to death. This is what happens with a lot of cancer patients. The cancer destroys their desire for food. Consequently, they don’t eat and they starve to death. Now, in a very similar way, if we are not aware of our horrible spiritual condition, if we don’t understand we are spiritually dead and hopeless, there is no reason for us to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ. We will then have no reason to seek God. And when we think we are in good shape, there is no need for an outside rescue. Jesus said, “those who are well, don’t need a physician.” By this He meant that if a person doesn’t realize they are depraved, sinful and in a hopeless condition, there is no way they are open to His Gospel of love and mercy and forgiveness. So, let’s be honest. We are like the Bible says, depraved to the core and drowning in the curse of our own sin. But praise be to God for His son, Jesus, who has rescued and saved us to be with Him eternally.
ANNOUNCER: Thank you, Dr. Schulz. With that, we have come to the end of our broadcast for another week. Look for next week’s sermon titled, “Who is the Fool?”