We are by nature, “Curved in on ourselves”

Michael Horton in his recommended Gospel-Driven Life, The: Being Good News People in a Bad News World:

Paul and his fellow apostles knew that they were by nature – – like the rest of us – – bent in on themselves.  And picking up on a phrase from Augustine, the Protestant Reformers said that as fallen sinners we are all “curved in on ourselves.”  Born with a severe case of spiritual scoliosis, our spines are twisted so that all we can see are our own immediate felt needs, desires, wants, and momentary gratifications.  But the gospel makes us stand erect, looking up to God in faith and out to the world and our neighbors in love and service.  Not every piece of news can do that, but the gospel can. . .

Like a branch that has been bent out of shape, we fall back naturally to being curved in on ourselves unless we are being pulled back constantly to raise our eyes up to God in faith as he has clothed himself in the gospel of his Son.