Innocence and Instinct

What we have currently been reading in Romans might come across as difficult to understand for some of us. I know I often times had to re-read portions and stop to sort them out in my head before even moving on. I don't want anyone to be running in the dark with any of these verses, so please share if you are having any difficulty with a particular verse and we will discuss it. I think it would be great for us to hear everyone's personal opinions on certain verses.

I personally think what we're reading right now (in Romans 7) parallels with the main idea of Red's album Innocence and Instinct. As the opening track sings, "What I fear and what I try/ Words I say and what I hide/All the pain, I want it to end/But I want it again." This song seems to describe what Paul says in Romans 7:15-20, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives 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 what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it."

One can re-state these verses in poetry, but basically, Paul is talking about his "fight inside" between his sinful self and his spiritual self. We all, as Christians, have two constantly warring sides as well.

At youth camp, the preacher discussed these sides of "Innocence" and "Instinct." He stated that one side of us wants to worship and obey God, but we feel miserable because of sin. And yet, another side wants to indulge in the pleasures of sin, but we feel miserable because of the Holy Spirit convicting us of our wrong. Thus, Romans 7:21-23: "So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members."

Hence verse 24: "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?"

Well said, Paul! Well said! So what are we to do? We are so wrapped up in our sinful instinct. Is there any way to return to innocence?

Verse 25: "Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

So we don't have to live in misery after all. The war between our sinful and spiritual selves might be hard, but we don't give up. Each day, we are being molded into better people; and we will never see perfection until we get to Heaven.

"Oh, I'm wasting away,
It's part of my instinct,
I'll run away from everything I hate.
Take this away,
Help me escape,
Take this away,
I confess...
...Innocence."
- "Confession (What's Inside My Head)", Red

What is your opinion on the war between "innocence" and "instinct"? Have you ever experienced it in your life? How can we better fight and win? Please share your comments and any verses you'd like to discuss!