The content of the Bible is the worst of news (you are a sinner) and the best of news (God is willing to forgive). It’s only when you’re ready to admit the worst that you then open yourself up to what’s best. All of this means that you and I don’t have to live in denial and avoidance. We don’t have to play self-excusing logic games with ourselves. We don’t have to give ourselves to systems of penance and self-atonement. 

At the center of every philosophy or religion are two questions that change everything:

1. What is people’s biggest, most abiding problem?
2.  How will this problem ever get solved?

The Christian worldview is very clear and very simple about the first: the answer is sin.

The Bible directs us to look inside ourselves and not outside. Scripture documents and describes the chaos that ensues when we try to set up our little claustrophobic kingdoms of one, rather than living for the kingdom of God.

Most significantly, the Word of God requires each of us to accept that, at the most practical of levels, sin distorts our thoughts, desires, choices, actions, and words.

And there’s absolutely nothing we can do within our own power to solve this problem.

At the same time, the same Bible presents us with the narrative that there’s hope and help to be found. Admitting sin sounds like a death sentence, but it’s not. We cannot solve our greatest problem, but there’s a place where the solution can be found.

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