No one is good except God

 “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.” Mark 10:18

We all want to think of ourselves as good and moral people. But are we? To answer that means we have to define what “good” really means, but more importantly, who defines it. It can be argued that last part breaks down into three main sources, myself, society and God, all of which are often intertwined to varying degrees.

The first one is easy...no explanation needed, including the tacit dangers thereof.

“Society” is far more complex and far too much to get into here. As just one example we live with now, take political correctness and think of how much it affects us all. Add to it the power of perceived public consensus and you will find that it shapes us more than we realize. (As a side note, take some time to look at its origins, evolution and especially intended purpose via Gramsci, Marx, et al.)

And within society, we cannot ignore media of all types. On that note, I personally wonder what it would be like if we could bring our great grandparents here for one day, have them watch typical movies/TV shows and get their reaction to what our modern values are!

There is an interesting corollary here as well, regarding all three. If you have access, look into Agafia Lykova. Briefly put, as “Old Believer” Christians, in 1936 her family fled the mass persecutions under Stalin to live isolated in the Siberian mountains. Agafia was born there in 1944, and the family lived for 40 years out of contact with the outside world, having no idea that World War 2 had even occurred. Their focus was always their faith. Agafia alone survives today, with a number of years spent alone after the last of her family died but also being exposed to modern society.

Why mention all of this? Agafia has experienced all three of the aforementioned but in a way that is unique from all of us. Her view of her life here always has been, and still is, defined by God throughout all she has experienced. Whether one lives isolated, in a small town or in a metropolis we all still have the same influences upon who we are.

In Romans 7, Paul wrote, “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good but I cannot carry it out.  For I do not do the good I want to do but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.”

God tells us what we absolutely do not want to hear: that there is no inherent good within ourselves. If we are willing to admit this, however He graciously offers the answer. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Through Jesus Christ, Who gave His life for us, may we so live for Him.