The Great Insult

I read an article called The Lion, the Witch, and the Great Insult a while back. It responded to a critic of the movie "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" who said that "Narnia represents everything that is most hateful about religion." The author, James Tonkow, said this:

This notion that we could want or need divine help is treated by Toynbee as a huge insult. Perhaps surprisingly, I think she understands a truth that eludes most Christians: the Christian Gospel is, in fact, the Great Insult. Our human spirits loath the Christian message because it offends our pride by demanding that before accepting Christ, we accept that we are spiritually and morally corrupt and impoverished.

and..

No wonder Toynbee is offended. I'm offended too. I'd prefer to think of myself as talented, capable, and at least a decent person, if not actually good. I want to accomplish what I can and receive the credit before God and other people. I suspect that you're that way too.

Yes, I'm that way too. I've always tried to be the best person I could be, and thought I was a pretty good person. Somewhere along the line however, I guess I realized that the best I have to offer falls a bit short on God's measuring stick.