Does the Bible teach the total depravity of man? That depends on what one means by "total depravity". Let me offer a few observations:
So I ask you: does your theological system require you to believe that the image of God has been eradicated in man? If so, then how do you reconcile the fact that unsaved men can think, create, etc.? And if the image of God (albeit marred) has been retained, then how can you believe that all unsaved men are totally repelled by every aspect of the character of God?
Please note (he says, naively hoping that any respondents will read what I actually wrote and not a paranoid exaggeration of it), I'm not saying that man is basically good, that our problem with sin is trivial, or that we are capable of saving ourselves. Reread points 1 and 2 as many times as is necessary for this to sink in. I'm simply saying that inventing an extra-biblical term and then clinging to the most extreme interpretation of it in the teeth of Scripture is not the path to truth.
- The Bible certainly teaches that we are all sinners and utterly unable to save ourselves (Rom 3:23; Gal 2:21; etc.).
- Every facet of our character has been corrupted by sin.
- However, to suggest that there is no trace of anything good left in man at all is to contradict the Bible. The Bible teaches that we were created in the image of God (Gen 1:26-27). That isn't a reference to our physical appearance, but to a variety of spiritual, moral, emotional, and intellectual attributes. Whatever else it means, it means that we can think, reason, create, love, etc. If "total depravity" means that man is as depraved as possible in every way, then it would mean that the image of God has been utterly obliterated and that an unsaved man retains none of it. This is patently untrue. Unsaved men can think, reason, and create. Unsaved men can even love. Although diminished and corrupted, vestiges of the image of God remain. It is for this reason that the Holy Spirit can say through Peter that Christ "called us by His own glory and excellence" (2 Pet 1:3). Exaggerators of the depravity of man would suggest that such a thing is impossible; that an unsaved man could never be even remotely attracted to any element of Christ's character; that God would have to force men to trust Christ against their will. But the Bible doesn't teach that the image of God has been eradicated in unsaved men. And to the extent that it remains, man has the ability to appreciate noble things: creation, love, family, etc.
So I ask you: does your theological system require you to believe that the image of God has been eradicated in man? If so, then how do you reconcile the fact that unsaved men can think, create, etc.? And if the image of God (albeit marred) has been retained, then how can you believe that all unsaved men are totally repelled by every aspect of the character of God?
Please note (he says, naively hoping that any respondents will read what I actually wrote and not a paranoid exaggeration of it), I'm not saying that man is basically good, that our problem with sin is trivial, or that we are capable of saving ourselves. Reread points 1 and 2 as many times as is necessary for this to sink in. I'm simply saying that inventing an extra-biblical term and then clinging to the most extreme interpretation of it in the teeth of Scripture is not the path to truth.
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