People aren't bad generally - people are basically good.

First I have to ask by what measure? Do you measure it from what is truly good or relatively good? What if the center of the bell curve is so far away from "truly good" that you can't even see real or absolute good from there? Would you still call us basically good?

We are complete and total moral failures. We have a few bright moments but from the moments of our birth we are self centered and self willed creatures, seeking self gratification.

Ge 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

Note: this is the portion of the scripture where the Lord makes a covenant with Noah not to drown all the world again. What was the evidence of this promise? Have you seen it being used by anyone today as a symbol of their struggle. Who is the struggle against? Basically good people from a "relative truth" point of view?

Ro 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

ALL, that means all of the people whom you call basically good.

Mt 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

Mr 10:18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

Lu 18:19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

Jesus did not see people as "good" relatively. He knew the truth.

Joh 8:26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

He knew the condition of man's heart.

Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

When we look at things with our fallen eyes in our fallen world we see things distortedly. Christ knew this much of his teachings were about how we had things backward, upside down or inside out. One of the many teachings is

Matthew

This is clearly contrary to the ways of this "basically" good world we live in. Another very counterintuitive teaching of Jesus is:

Mt 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Mt 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

This concept is contrary to our entire sense of right and wrong which seeks to punish those who wrong us.

In the end if we only measure things based upon our limited perceptions (taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing) with our limited experience of judgment from observing the habits of other limited creatures such as ourselves it is reasonable to conclude that we are basically good. If we could ask a microbe who lives in a cesspool about his conditions he would probably say that it is basically good. If we ask a criminal in the penitentiary about the other guys who are in his cell block he may likely say that they are basically good. Again what is your measure?

Proverbs 3

3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Pr 14:12 Pr 16:25 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Agape <><

Mark Rouleau
rouleau-law@insightbb.com