Our Thoughts, His Thoughts

Psalm 10:4

In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him;
all his thoughts are, "There is no God."

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In a previous post I mentioned that doubt is really a form of pride. I didn't realize that there was a singular Bible verse to back that up, but here in verse 4 we have a very similar expression of this reality. When someone says, "There is no God," it is not merely a theoretical conclusion, not entirely a logical pronouncement. In fact, this verse tells us that such a statement is a moral pronouncement springing from an immoral heart. Pride. Wicked. Does not seek him. These are moral characteristics which remind us that there is a worshiping heart behind every belief system. One heart worships God; another worships self.

He says in his heart, "I shall not be moved;
throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity."

Unfortunately, because of the problem of evil and the broken world we live in, the proud and wicked man is often justified by his circumstances. I've noticed this in the world of sales and commerce. While integrity and compassion are fundamental to a long-lasting society, in the short-term, people who are greedy and driven by money are often the ones getting the best deals in the most timely manner. Car sales, telemarketing, etc. We see wicked people prosper all the time; and they see it too, and laugh. They laugh and mock because they think that they've beat God at His own game. They've avoided responsibility and commitment and have found all that their hearts desired.

Why does the wicked renounce God
and say in his heart, "You will not call to account?"

This verse is yet another window into the thoughts of the prosperous wicked man. We've seen that he thinks he is an atheist. We've seen that he thinks he is invincible. Now, we see that he says in his heart, "You will not call to account." That's strange: an atheist talking to God. But, what else would an atheist say to God? The man who thinks he is alone in the world and can do anything he wants is also the man who prays this way: God does not see, God does not care, God won't do anything about it. This is painfully sad, because we know that this life alone is not the end of the story. There will be a day of reckoning, when God will (once again) interrupt the affairs of this world and bring justice once and for all. Hear these last verses and remember what are God's thoughts, God's plans, and God's glorious beauty.

The LORD is king forever and ever;
the nations perish from his land.
O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear
to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.

But who do you say that I am?

Matthew 16:16-17

Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

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Our world continues to be confused about who Jesus really was. Was he a great moral teacher? Was he an off-the-wall cult leader? Was he a mystical gnostic iconoclast? The Gallup poll of First Century Palestine was not much different. Some people thought he was just a prophet. Some thought he was the reincarnation of John the Baptist, Elijah, or Jeremiah. Some thought he was full of the devil and needed to be executed. But, of all people, the guy who got it right was an old fisherman named Peter.

We've already seen Peter goof things up a little bit on the Sea of Galilee. He doubted that it was Jesus walking on the water. He doubted that God could keep him standing on the waves. Later, he doubts whether claiming Jesus as a friend is worth being arrested, so he denies him three times. And, worst of all, in this very chapter he doubts him, right after getting the correct answer on this identity test. He was truly blessed, but he was also a mess!

Doubt is a form of pride. This is hard for me to swallow, being often doubtful myself, but it still needs to be said: doubt is a form of pride. When someone doubts the clear teaching of the Bible, they are claiming to be smarter than God, to have more common sense than their Maker. We think we've figured out a plot hole in God's great story and we're determined to milk it in order to justify our disobedience. Doubt is not romantic; it is poisonous.

But, it is also encouraging to know that the early followers of Christ were essentially doubters, cowards, and riff-raff of all varieties. This religion is not for the ivory tower and its not just for the already spiritually-minded. It is a "ragamuffin" gospel of sorts. Jesus meets us where we are, takes our smoldering embers of faith, and fans them into flame. Flesh and blood do not reveal that Jesus is the Christ; that is, no logic or common sense point to that conclusion. It is truly the Father alone that makes him known. Even moreso is this true because of the kind of Christ that Jesus was -- not an earthly king coming in power (he will one day be that!), but a humble shepherd laying down his life for his sheep.

And he calls us to do likewise (16:24-28).