Are people basically good? That’s a common notion in our world today; evil is blamed on everything from environment to education, from bullying to bad parenting. Jesus insists that the problem of evil runs much deeper, and much closer to home, than most people think. Every person ever born is totally depraved – inwardly bent toward rebellion against God, regardless of external inputs. “There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.” Mark 7:15 (NKJV) The doctrine of total depravity does not mean we’re all as bad as we could be, but that all people’s minds, emotions and wills are tainted by the curse of sin. Put more simply, man’s sin problem is not outside of him, but inside of him. We need a new heart – not a better environment – to be restored to God and conquer sin.
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Steve Massey is the pastor of Hayden Bible Church of Hayden, Idaho. He also writes about matters of faith for The Spokesman-Review of Spokane, Wash., where he previously worked as an editor and reporter. He and his wife, Pam, have two grown children, Jake and Sarah.
