In John Piper’s explanation of the five points of Calvinism, he explains total depravity of man in four aspects. He writes, “Total depravity means that our rebellion against God is total, everything we do in this rebellion is sin, our inability to submit to God or reform ourselves is total, and we are therefore totally deserving of eternal punishment.”
This definition flies in the face of all the secularist and humanist who believe that human being are naturally good and that we are born with a clean slate. But the Bible reminds us, “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one” (Ro 3:10-12).
We don’t have to go very far to realize that we are depraved people in need of God’s mercy and grace, especially in light of what is going on in Kenya. I have been more diligent in keeping up with the news because one of my friends, Dr. Steve Lee is in Kenya right now serving as a medical missionary.
How do you explain people’s hatred and their behavior apart from the doctrine of the depravity of man? What would cause people to torch a church that is filled with people? What wickedness would allow people to throw back a baby into the burning church building when it was thrown out for safety? Why would people kill each other solely based on ethnicity?
This is another fresh reminder that without the Gospel of Jesus Christ transforming our hearts, we would be left to our own demise.
It is hard to believe that I drove through some of the streets that are now appearing in the news, especially with what is going on in Eldoret where the Kenya Assemblies of God Church was torched. We spent time in Eldoret eating at some of the restaurants and using the internet cafes. I would have never imagined something like this happening.
Here is a Time Magazine article of the church burning.
Here are some aerial video coverage of burning parts of Eldoret.
May we continue to pray for the situation in Kenya. Please pray for God’s protection over Dr. Steve and his family and also for the hospital staff.
Piper finishes of his discussion on “total depravity” by saying, “It is hard to exaggerate the importance of admitting our condition to be this bad. If we think of ourselves as basically good or even less than totally at odds with God, our grasp of the work of God in redemption will be defective. But if we humble ourselves under this terrible truth of our total depravity, we will be in a position to see and appreciate the glory and wonder of the work of God.”
Kenya’s ethnic divide – some of history’s worst atrocities are racially motivated
How does a parent explain the evil and depravity of human beings?