Out of the Abundance of the Heart

Now, I don't know Chris Reichert personally. I haven't even seen the video footage of him throwing money at the man with Parkinson's at the political rally against the Health Care bill. I have read some of what went on and, frankly, as a conservative, I am disgusted. But, I don't know Mr. Reichert, or anyone else who was at the rally, so I have to take his apology at face value.

But, one thing I am sure about what Mr. Reichert originally said and did is that he meant it. It was not as if he was forced to say something he didn't want to say or wasn't really feeling. He can use the excuse of getting caught up in the emotions of a political rally all he wants, but it doesn't change the fact that what he said came, not from the surroundings of the rally, but from his own heart. It's much like someone who gets drunk and says or does things they regret trying to blame the alcohol. It is not that the alcohol made you do something, it is that the alcohol took away some of your inhibitions that keep you from saying or doing what you really feel inside.

Which brings us back to a proper biblical understanding of human nature. We are not basically good. We are not even tabula rasa, or blank slates that are formed completely by our environment. The Bible says that the heart of man is "desperately wicked" and that "every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Now, this is a pretty strong indictment against mankind. But, look at our history, even the events of this past week, and it should be obvious that the Bible is correct.

As fallen human beings, our greatest need is not a new Health Care plan (or a government that completely adheres to the Constitution). The greatest need of every human being, including Mr. Reichert and you and me, is a Savior. We need to be changed from the inside out. We need the sins we commit to be forgiven. And we can't do that ourselves. This is why God sent His Son to die on the cross. He did it for sinful people like Chris Reichert. He did it for sinful people like Doug Mixer. He did it for you.