For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. – Romans 3:23
Thirty years ago, as an economist in Washington, DC, I enjoyed jokes about my profession.
An economist, a chemist, and an engineer were stranded on a desert island. All that they had was a can of beans. The engineer suggested that he climb a palm tree and throw the can a certain distance at a precise angle. “And when the can hits, it will split open.” “No,” said the chemist, “let’s leave the can in the sun until the heat expands the beans so much that the can explodes.” “Nonsense,” said the economist, “using either method, we’d lose too many beans. According to my plan, there will be no mess and not a single bean will be lost.” The engineer and the chemist asked, “What’s your plan?” The economist responded, “First, assume a can opener.”
When dealing with social problems, some people “assume a can opener.” For example, some might suggest that society’s plan for overcoming greed ought to be altruism and a concern for others. This suggestion is made as if humans could all of a sudden stop being selfish and start caring for one another. “Assume man is inherently good,” then simply be good to others.
If you have spent time at a daycare center, then you know that toddlers need not be taught how to be selfish – it just comes naturally. Children do not need to be taught how to misrepresent the truth – they can lie just fine on their own. After decades of unprecedented investment in education, people are still covetous and greedy. In 2021 alone, 13,655 people received a doctorate of education. 843 million books were printed. 22,900 people were murdered. Expert teaching and voracious reading hasn’t eliminated evil in our country. Education doesn’t make people good because education can’t remove our natural affinity for sinning.
How extensive is sin? We read in the first few pages of the Bible that Adam was in paradise and yet desired something for which he didn’t have a right to possess. Adam had it great, but he was greedy. We have inherited his sin. People were greedy before capitalism. About 3,400 years ago, God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses, making it abundantly clear that coveting and stealing were wrong. The major religions of the world acknowledge this, yet people still covet and steal.
Reformed Theology gives us a helpful term for all of this. Each person, by nature, is born in a condition of “Total Depravity.” The Bible teaches that the fall of man into the state of sin has left him spiritually dead. Total Depravity does not mean utter depravity; it means that the fall was so pervasive that it affects the whole person – every part of us is affected by sin. As a result, man can do nothing to make himself spiritually alive. Fallen man is spiritually blind and deaf so that he cannot see God’s handwriting in nature and in the Bible, nor can he hear God’s general call to repent and believe. He cannot choose good because what he wants is to rebel against God. In his natural state, man cannot choose altruism. He cannot be taught to be good. He cannot be regulated to be good or simply joined with others to hold him accountable. We have ample evidence all around us. Hamas. Chicago. Congress. Hollywood. Parchman.
What can we do? The good news is that we cannot do anything about this social problem. After all, if it was up to us, we wouldn’t solve the problem, we’d make it worse. Instead, God changes hearts. Jesus paid the penalty for the sins of sinners.
The Holy Spirit dwells in those whom Jesus rescued. We don’t need to assume a can opener. God opens depraved hearts and gives them life to live by faith in His Son. All have sinned and fall short. If you can see our common condition, then you can love your neighbor. May God continue opening hearts and eyes in Indianola.
