About six years ago Inc.com published a survey that showed that 83% of people believe that people are basically good. My own assessment is that 100% of those people who believe people are basically good are basically not the sharpest knives in their drawers. In truth, it baffles me that anyone could believe such a thing. Not because I’m a pessimist, not because I’m a Calvinist. But because I have eyes.
Those, on the other hand, who acknowledge that “people are the worst,” while they may have eyes, must be running low on mirrors. This complaint generally operates under the assumption that the one making it is exempt from the diagnosis. But we’re not. We are the worst. Not they are the worst. We are.
Grasping this simple and as obvious as the nose on Jimmy Durante’s face truth would impact how we run our lives. It would mean, first of all, that we would all be more quick to repent. Not just for what we do, but what we are. This propensity for repentance comes with a helpful corollary, a propensity to forgive. If we stopped pretending we are basically good we would stop being shocked and outraged when we are done wrong.
We would, in turn prepare for wrongdoing around the corner. We would both protect ourselves from other wrongdoers and flee ourselves from temptation. We would not be gullible about others’ intentions toward us, nor our intentions toward others. We would do wise things like locking our doors, buckling our seatbelts, not listening to gossip, online or otherwise.
If we understood that people are not basically good we would no longer think that an accusation of great evil x is a sign that the accused is guilty. While we are all bad enough to commit wickedness x, we are all also bad enough to falsely accuse others of wickedness x. It is precisely because people are the worst that we maintain the notion of innocent until proven guilty.
The world is abuzz over declassified documents related to Hillary, Obama, Comey and others which seem to reveal that people in the highest halls of power conspired together to lie to the American people and win an election. Why would this surprise us? It’s a wonderful thing to have more evidence and my prayer is that justice will be done. But this is par for the course. This is what people are like. All while smiling, waving, posing with family and kissing babies.
The church should be that place where we lead with honesty. Where we reflect the wisdom of GK Chesterton. A local paper had raised the question, “What’s wrong with the world?” inviting readers to respond. Chesterton sent in his two word reply, “I am.” We are free to confess that we are the worst because He suffered for us. He took what was our due. Our awfulness cannot separate us from the living God at Whose right hand are pleasures forevermore.
People are the worst. Yes we are. But we believers are one with the Best.
Excellent article RCJ! ❤️ You have eyes and a brain (to think through yours and others (mine) Total Depravity)!! Thank you for this! I wish it was read by millions more people and that God would use it to change many hearts and minds.
Indeed
P.S. I would follow on this article with one titled “Evil people capable of doing good works” (or something similar). Would love to hear your perspective on that topic.
Good idea