A few posts ago I mentioned something Calvinists call Total Depravity. Again, it means that we believe people are so sinful and spiritually dead, that will not choose to trust in Jesus on their own. It is only through the work of the Spirit that we are "born again." (John 3)But to say that humans are totally depraved does not mean that humans are "utterly" depraved: unable to do anything culturally good. Obviously both Christians and non-Christians do nice things like help old ladies cross the street and partake in hurricane relief. Non-Christians can at times be more generous, nicer, and just plain more like-able. This is due to the fact that all humans are made in the image of God (reflect something true of our creator). So humans are not as bad as we could be. Fortunately.
Let me give you an example from someone I would not normally want to praise: Bill Belichick, the coach of the New England Patriots. Several years ago the NFL ran a seedy intro to a Monday night football game. One of the Desperate Housewives (I can't remember which one) showed up at the locker room soliciting Terrell Owen's time and intimacy during the game. He chooses the girl over the game in the segment.
Tony Dungy objected to the add on a number of levels, one being race. He was blasted by most folks. Enter Bill Belichik. He stood up and backed Dungy, agreeing with Tony that if the NFL needed adds like that, he would take a pay-cut!
So, yes, as much as it pains me to say, way to go Bill. He is not "utterly" depraved, but instead created in the Image of God. And that incident reminds me of this truth.
2 comments:
You mean there may be hope for Manny Ramirez?
Randy,
For Manny, there is hope that he could actually be a decent human being. But he could also continue just being Manny. Which is not good for anybody. Especially 58 year old traveling secretaries...Watch out.
Ultimately, like me, he needs the gospel for any real character change. But one day, he may not push older men to the ground when they don't get him enough tickets to a Rays game...Of that we can hope. Hope, but not count on.
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