Proper 17: Gospel, Mark 7:14-23                                                    

Mark 7:14-23 

How many times have you heard this? And before you answer, think from whom you’ve heard it, because for a Christian to give this advice to anyone is thoroughly misplaced. OK! It’s worse than that. It’s just stupid. Ready? “Just trust your heart.” Or perhaps a more masculine version for the fishing boat or garage, “Go with your gut, brother.” Bad, bad advice on all fronts.

It is the mantra of the age. Well, at least one of them. It makes me crazy every time I hear it and as I was reminded the other day, it’s actually the theme of nearly every Disney movie ever made. No wonder our kids grow into adults who give such sage advice. Disgusting.

If there is one lesson the Bible teaches from first to last, it’s this: the human heart cannot and should not be trusted in anything. And even for the Christian, the heart can only be trusted when schooled and molded by the spotless Word of God which alone renews the human heart.

Our reading in Mark’s gospel makes this point clear. Jesus says, “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person” (Mark 7:21-23).

Scripture teaches that externals matter little to God. It’s the inside of the man or woman where He focuses His attention. Has this word from Jesus gotten yours and mine? How about Jeremiah 17:9 or perhaps Genesis 6:5. There are two lies Satan pitches to keep people away from God. First, is that they are so bad they cannot be saved, and second they are so good they do not need saving. Guess which lie rules in the world today?

So, before we give counsel to anyone to follow their heart, don’t listen to Oprah or Madea or Dr. Phil. And do not, do not take advice from Cinderella’s fairy godmother. Go to the Word of the Living God where you will certainly find the clean and poised blade of the Law. But just on it’s heels the sweet, sweet salve of the gospel of Jesus. His Word we can trust.