A popular belief in our culture today about the nature of humankind is that we are all basically good. I've heard this personally on several occasions. This is not a new concept. Many early philosophers, including Abraham Maslow insisted human nature is innately good. Here are two examples:
I do not find that evil is inherent in human nature. - Carl Rogers
Since this inner nature is good or neutral rather bad, it is best to bring it out and to encourage it, rather than to oppress it. If it is permitted to guide our life, we grow healthy, fruitful and happy. - Abraham Maslow
The danger in believing that mankind is basically good is that it negates the need for a Savior, Jesus, to rescue us from a holy God's wrath on evil mankind. If we are already good, we could get to heaven on our own. However, the bible says that from as early on Adam, all of us have a sin nature and God is grieved by it:
Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. Ge 6:5-6
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned - Ro 5:12
We can’t escape our inheritance from Adam, but we can escape God’s eternal punishment for sin through belief on Jesus for eternal life. We can also use each opportunity we have, such as when we hear statements like “we are all basically good”, as a springboard to gently share the truth of a Christian worldview and lead people to Christ. That’s why we should be able to articulate why we believe what we believe.
What will you do with what you know?
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