Our Cure: Destruction

Modern secular psychology is largely optimistic about human problems. Most counseling issues are related to minor flaws, and with ever-progressing advances in our understanding, we can heal whatever weaknesses inhibit the human self, which is by nature whole, healthy, and adjusted.

 

Modern literature, on the other hand, sees the human self as chaotic, diseased, and incredibly disordered. This evaluation seems to correspond more closely with biblical teaching. Daniel Albright, Professor of Literature at Harvard, points out what most modern literature has said is the source of our soul's disorder:

 

    …for the most part, the notable writers of recent times have said, in effect, we are our disease; to cure us would destroy us. This may be one explanation for the popularity of a medievally severe Christianity     among such writers as T.S. Elliot: Whatever the defects of Christian theology, it does not teach that man is naturally healthy; instead it offers a vision of original sin--inter urinas et faeces nascimur [we are born     between urine and feces].

So, what's the solution? Unknowingly, modern writers have touched on one of the central tenets of Christ's teaching: "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it" (Matt 16:25). Jesus said the cure was losing in order to find, and Paul called it the 'putting off' of the old self and the 'putting on' of the new. And, in the language of Calvin and Owen, to be vivified one must first be mortified. The cure to our disease—ourselves—is our destruction.