"The doctrines of godliness are the doctrines of gladness. If it does not come at the last to gladness, then to hell with it. When the work of God is good and deep, then those who are redeemed from their depravity are happy to sing and talk about it. 'And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away (Isaiah 35:10)'" - Douglas Wilson, Angels in the Architecture: A Protestant Vision for Middle Earth
Total depravity is not a buzzkill. It is actually the founder of the feast. When you understand what you deserve, what you have in Christ is all the more celebratory. The doctrines of God and man that the Bible teaches lead us to greater joys than the ones we invent for ourselves. The mantras of self-esteem and and divine indifference do not produce gladness. They may produce small batch, self-assured braggadocio, but they cannot produce abundant, God-given gratitude.
No comments:
Post a Comment