The writer of Psalm 51 cries out, "create within me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me!"
Such a plea asks God to purge one of his/her sins, for God to help put one back into right relationship with the Almighty. God has equally promised in Ezekiel 36:26 that he will indeed "give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you."
However, have Christians really thought about the implications of both this request and this promise? What exactly does it mean to have a new, clean heart put within you?
The Hebraic View of the Heart
For the writers of the Old Testament, the heart was not merely an organ. It was far more than that. The "heart," because of its central location within the body, was considered the seat of all emotions, passions, appetites, intellect and moral faculties. The best correlation one might put forth in modern terms would be the human "conscience" (a term for which Hebrew has no word).
The bible outlines that the seat of sin which corrupts humanity lies within the "heart." (Genesis 8:21, Ecclesiastes 8:11) It is "uncircumcised" (Jeremiah 9:26; Ezekiel 44:7), "hardened" (Exodus 4:21), "wicked" (Proverbs 26:23), "perverse" (Proverbs 11:20), "godless" (Job 36:13), and "deceitful" (Jeremiah 17:9).
It defiles the whole person (Matthew15:19,20) and resists the repeated call of God (Exodus 7:13). Yet it is also where the law of God is written (Romans 2:15), and is where the work of grace is wrought (Acts 15:9). Fear, love, anger and sorrow all proceed forth from the "heart."
A New, Clean Heart
When the Psalmist thus asks for a "clean heart," he is asking for the human conscience to be expunged, removed from the essence of his being.
What few contemplate, however, is what is the end result of this "new heart" going to be? Most humans look to their experiences in life to define who and what they are. Their memories, relationships, pains, sorrows and yes, even sins, have all been instrumental in shaping who they are as a "person." One's sins, in many ways, define them.
Yet Christianity claims that in Christ, one becomes a "new creation" (2 Cor inthians 5:17, Galatians 6:15). God says he will "wipe away every tear" and there will be no more death, suffering or pain (Revelations 21). But most importantly, he says he will place within the human a "new heart." That means their "conscience" is going to be replaced. Their "self," their identity, the good and the bad that has shaped their life will be expunged and God will forget one's sins...and apparently, so will the human. For if one is truly given a new name and a new identity, does one not become a completely and utterly new person?
Clinging to the Self
Most will balk at such an idea. In fact, some people "like" their pain - it helps define them. The idea that becoming a "new creation" means that somewhere along the way the "self" identity one has must be cast aside is just a little too much to bear.
People cling to their "old self," unwilling to shed the worldly experience. For those who love their lives in this fashion - the idea of a "new creation" and a "new heart" is not good news. In fact, it's scary. That somehow everything one has here in this world won't transcend and be a part of the "new" is too much to take.
When Jesus states that at the resurrection, there will be no marriage, that relationships will be "redefined," the one who is in a happy, loving marriage - which is indeed a blessing - rails against such a notion. Surely one will have that same special relationship at the resurrection, will they not? Jesus says "no." To be a new creation means everything is made new...including people.
How a New Heart is Good News
However, the people who cling to these experiences have most likely never lived in the depths of hell on earth. For someone whose life has been defined by abuse, addiction, pain and suffering, the thought that this can all be wiped clean, that they can be made anew and whole is indeed good news!
The pain will be forgotten, the bitterness wiped away - that is the only way a true transformation can take place. For as Paul states, on that day of resurrection, "we will all be changed." (1 Corinthians15:51) Indeed, the perishable is changed to imperishable, the corrupt human heart will be replaced with a new, clean heart, and life will truly be "new!"
The "good news" of a new creation however is only good news to those who do not cling to this life. It is why "good news" is not always heard as "good."
Denying the Self
Jesus calls upon the Christian to "deny themselves." (Mark 8:34) Rather than clinging to the self, including those very things that we identify as our "self," Christians are called not to embrace the things of this world - including everything that a person feels is what "defines" them.
For now, one will be defined not by what they have or have not done in their life, or what has or has not happened to them, but will be defined by what God calls them - children of God. Concern for the "self" will disappear as the original intention for humanity is brought about. Concern for the "other" and communal living will replace the self-centered, ego-centric lives humans lead.
"For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it." (Mark 8:35) In doing so, God will fulfill his promise, and "give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you."
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