“We are not lost because we are going to wind up in the wrong place. We are going to wind up in the wrong place because we are lost.”- John Ortberg
“Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.”- Psalm 51:6
In Chapter 4 (“Lost Souls”) of Soul Keeping, John Ortberg observes that we live on the planet of lost souls. While the soul integrates the will and mind and body, sin disintegrates them. When we sin we distort our perception of reality to rationalize our behavior. Pastor Ortberg explains what it means to lose your soul:
“Sin ultimately makes long-term gratitude or friendship or meaning impossible. Sin eventually destroys my capacity even for enjoyment, let alone meaning. It distorts my perceptions, alienates my relationships, inflames my desires, and enslaves my will.”
Losing your soul, Pastor Ortberg emphasizes, is not a matter of where you could end up, but of what you could become. Your surroundings don’t matter if you are a lost soul. Sin splits the self. Furthermore, we don’t just pretend in front of other people- we pretend with God. John states it is important that we recognize this soul truth. Confession really is good for the soul. It is better, he notes, to be “an honest mess before God than a dishonest saint.” This is the healing power of confession.
Today’s question: How did your soul disintegrate, living on the planet of lost souls, following your ministry downsizing or vocation loss? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The divided life”
