John Stott: Is Man Basically Good?

I came across the following quote and thought it was a strong argument for the Bible's teaching that mankind has a fallen, sinful nature.

"Much that we take for granted in a civilized society is based upon the assumption of human sin. Nearly all legislation has grown up because human beings cannot be trusted to settle their own disputes with justice and without self-interest. A promise is not enough; we need a contract. Doors are not enough; we have to lock and bolt them. The payment of fares is not enough; tickets have to be issued, inspected and collected. Law and order are not enough; we need the police to enforce them. All this is due to man's sin. We cannot trust each other. We need protection against one another. It is a terrible indictment of human nature." - John Stott, Basic Christianity

But thank God for this: "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost" (1 Tim. 1:15).

Comments (2)

This is so true and speaks volumes to me this morning. I am recently engaged to a wonderful, God-fearing man and we have found that God has been using each of us in the other's life as a refining tool. Our sin is more apparent to us, and the grace of God also. As we battle each day, God has given us a wonderful accountability partner and chastising partner so we might better glorify him and overcome our sin.

Posted by Lauren | January 4, 2009 10:16 AM

Is this a slight misappropriation of the concept of 'total depravity' and its interrelativity with the Imago Dei? I argue not with the content of the post or your comments, I'd be in full agreement. But as to the title referring to whether an inherent sinful nature is reflective of what is generally termed as "basically good," I don't think there need be a necessary correlation of the two. In this specific case, It's a bit of a 'kind of' answer. In the first layer, in our very creation in the likeness of God, we are basically good, yes. But, beyond that, until the eternal state, we are bound with our sin-nature. The Imago wasn't retracted by the fall, only marred. Our total depravity isn't to say that we are the lump sum of all evil, just that it has an intrinsic and pervasive nature in all that we do. Nothing in our power is of pure and good intent... just look at what a spreadsheet of your mind would look like if it was mapped even for ten minutes.

Point being, the Imago Dei exists within all man, saved and unsaved. God's very likeness, in all humans. God, in timeless omniscience of all that the world would do, saw an overarching macroscopic "It was good" theme, including the microscopic evils. Man, certainly fallen in nature, has something intrinsic from which they fell. Man, fallen and guilty of his rebellion toward his Creator, is still worth a Savior in the eyes of the Father. In need of a Savior, inarguably. But still, worth the task for God.

Posted by Sean | January 12, 2009 12:10 PM

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