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Human Nature
Naturalistically, human nature is regarded as generally good with exceptions. This judgment is based on human standards of what is right and wrong. These standards are not constant between nations and generations, making for a very subjective judgment of goodness. The ever changing standards include justifying abortion by denying the humanity of a baby before birth. Free choice is regarded as more important than a human life (life is sacred; therefore the Ten Commandments prohibit murder). Following this view means that what is good are not absolute, since it can be changed at a vote or by a panel of constitutional judges.
The Christian view of human nature is informed by the bible – we all (Christians and non-Christians alike) fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). The judgment of human nature as naturally sinful is not determined by what we do, but what we are – fallen men and women. God’s standard of goodness is much higher than the human standard (even Jesus, the most perfect man ever to have lived, stated that only His father in heaven was good). God’s nature is good as opposed to the general corruption of human nature.
There is clear evidence that human nature is generally corrupt as proclaimed by the bible. The necessity of laws to guide human behavior cannot be denied. The atrocities committed in lawless or war torn societies bear witness to the ease with which human beings degenerate when laws are not enforced (The current rise of criminal behavior in South Africa is also a good example). If human nature was naturally good, we would not need laws and would all naturally do the right thing.
The realization that human nature is not naturally good is required to admit that we cannot save ourselves. The standard of good as required by the bible is unreachable by any person (irrespective of self-image). The life, death and resurrection of Jesus brought the redemption of sin by the simple step of accepting it (in reach for anyone not blinded by bias or ego).
The sin of Adam was to regard himself as God’s equal and rejecting God’s wisdom. The similarity of Modern day rejection of Jesus’s gift to Adam’s rejection bears witness to the fact that our nature still has the same flaws. We still want to play God (ie. euthanasia and abortion), instead of submitting to God.
The difference between Christians and non-Christians is simply acceptance or rejection of the gift of salvation provided by Jesus. Christians are not better than non-Christians (and vice versa) and any person that regards himself above another is certainly hypocritical.
In conclusion, no human can claim to be perfect in motive or action. The best of us approach the human standard of goodness, which still is not good enough to “deserve” heaven. We need help, which was provided by Jesus (the most influential person in history).
