Sunday, November 4, 2012

"He could never have done that."

Yes he could.

And I could have as well. And so could you.

Whether he did do it or not, is another matter.

But he could have.

There is no sin into which we are not capable of falling, given the situation and the means.

Yes, feel sad. Feel disappointed. But don't feel shocked.

2 comments:

  1. I'm not entirely sure that's correct unless you mean at a very generic level of all sins ultimately being about unbelief, rebellion, lack of love and the like.

    I'm fairly sure that there's *some* sins - either so outre or so depraved (torture a little old lady to death for no reason) that it is legitimate to be shocked at the thought that someone we know did them. Total depravity doesn't mean that we are as bad as we could be, or even that we'd be as bad as we could if we had the opportunity and capability. We can be evil through and through and still not be interested in committing any and every wickedness.

    But your basic point, definitely agree - we seriously underestimate the perversity of even "good" people's hearts and how far (and how varied) people can go under the wrong temptation at the wrong time. Lack of confidence in ourselves, and a heartfelt 'Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil' is the normal Christian life.

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  2. I think that depravity means that I am absolutely capable of committing all sorts of sins in the future that I have no taste for right now. Inch by inch... If today I am angry with my grandmother for something and allow that to fester and eventually transfer my hatred onto all old people etc...

    The particular situation I'm thinking of is horrible and socially abhorrent and yet there is a fairly easy way all of us could get there given a few years or moral deterioration and an opportunity.

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