John Burgeson wrote:
> Jan wrote: "As human beings there is no second of our day which is not
> stained with sin. "Total depravity" means that every moment of our day is
> full of sin, which means that no theory we have is without sin."
>
> I know Jan really really believes this. It seems to me like nonsense. What
> do people from other faith communities think?
The Lutheran view (i.e., the right one :)) is that unregenerate human
beings are completely incapable of genuine faith in God, and that therefore
everything that they do is permeated with sin, "for whatever does not proceed
from faith is sin" (Rom.14:23). This does not mean that acts which are
outwardly in accord with the law are not possible, but that their motivation
is not that the sinner "fears, loves, & trusts in God above all things."
However, the term "total depravity" is problematic for it suggests
that there is absolutely nothing good about unregenerate humanity at all.
This would effectively mean that such people are no longer creatures of God or
(to use older language) that they are creatures of Satan, something suggestive
of the Manichaean heresy. Such an idea was condemned in the 1st Article of
the Formula of Concord.
Luther & the Lutheran tradition have held that even after one has been
brought to faith by the Holy Spirit sin remains in the person. Luther's
statement is that the Christian is simul justus et peccator - at the same time
justified and sinner. This is an idea that other Christians have often had
problems with - it was one of the stickier points in the discussions leading
to the recent Lutheran-Roman Catholic declaration on justification. It seems
to me, however, to have pretty solid support in Romans 7 and in the experience
of most Christians if they reflect on it honestly.
I'm not sure what to make of the statement that "no theory we have is
without sin." Heisenberg & Schroedinger, like all of us, were sinners, but
where is the sin in quantum mechanics?
Shalom,
George
George L. Murphy
http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/
"The Science-Theology Interface"
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