This is a slightly abbreviated version of my usual “Reading the Classics” post. I am in Orlando and about to begin blogging the Ligonier Ministries National Conference. I am going to need to head to the church in just a few minutes. So I will to leave it to the other participants in this effort (that’s you!) to add a little bit more detail about the contents of this chapter. For now, here are just a few brief notes.
Discussion
I tried something different this week. We had a long drive this week, traveling from Toronto to Chattanooga and, while we were driving, I asked my wife to read this chapter to me. It’s the first time I’ve listened to a chapter of the classics instead of reading a chapter of the classics. I quite enjoyed it.
In this chapter of Real Christianity, Wilberforce writes about “Inadequate Conceptions of Human Nature.” He shows that one of the keys to discerning true from false beliefs relies on a person’s understanding of human nature. He believes rightly that a proper understanding of human nature “lies at the very root of all true religion. And it is the basis and groundwork of Christianity.”
“Most educated, professing Christians,” he writes, “either overlook or deny the corruption and weakness of human nature.” Though they are forced to acknowledge that something is amiss with human behavior, they will deny sin and depravity and speak instead of frailty and infirmity, of petty wrongdoings rather than indwelling sin. “The majority of professing Christians usually speak of man as a being who is naturally pure. He is inclined to all virtue. Only occasionally something draws him out of the righteous course…” Wilberforce compares and contrasts such a view to the Bible’s understanding of humanity which describes man as desperately wicked and sinful to the very core.
He is right when he declares “They who have formed a true notion of their lost and helpless state will most gladly listen to good news. And they will have a high estimation of the value of such a deliverance.” I almost wonder if he was thinking of his friend John Newton when he wrote these words. Regardless, he goes on to say that, though talk of man’s depravity is a difficult and painful discussion that does damage to man’s pride, it is one that is necessary for one who would truly understand the great work of the gospel. “The mind listens to it with difficulty, nay, with a mixture of anger and disgust. Yet it is here that our foundation must be laid. Otherwise our superstructure, whatever we may think of it, will one day prove tottering and insecure.”
Next Week
We’ll continue next Thursday with Chapter 3, “Inadequate Conceptions of God and of Christian Behavior.”
Your Turn
Reading the Classics Together is, at its heart, an interactive effort. If you have read the chapter and have comments or questions, please feel free to post a comment. If you have a blog of your own and have written about the book there, please feel free to leave us a link to your article.
Comments (8) »
1. Jude St.John
March 19, 2009
6:25 AM
Tim,
up early this morning I see!
I concur wholeheartedly with what you wrote here:
He is right when he declares “They who have formed a true notion of their lost and helpless state will most gladly listen to good news. And they will have a high estimation of the value of such a deliverance.”
Having only recently come into agreement with the doctrine of total depravity I can say with earnest that I have a higher estimation of the value of my deliverance. And this leads me into my post at www.quercuscalliprinos.blogspot.com/ .
Here is an excerpt:
But allow me to move on to a personal testimony concerning this doctrine. I’ll introduce my self-revelation with some lyrics that should be sung to the tune of Carolina In My Mind by James Taylor.
In my mind I was semi-Pelagian
Couldn’t see my depravity
Injured without gravity
Thought God was a friend of mine
Him on my own I’d find
Yes I was semi-Pelagian in my mind.
My name is Jude St. John, and I was a semi-Pelagian.
2. Michael Duenes
March 19, 2009
9:36 AM
This brief paragraph gripped me: “
But we must not only assent to the doctrine [of our inherent corruption] clearly, but feel it strongly. To this end, let the power of habit be called in to our aid. Let us accustom ourselves to refer to our natural depravity, as to their primary cause, the sad instances of vice and folly of which we read, or which we see around us, or to which we feel the propensities in our own bosoms; ever vigilant and distrustful of ourselves, and looking with an eye of kindness and pity on the faults and infirmities of others, whom we should learn to regard with the same tender concern as that with which the sick are used to sympathize with those who are suffering under the same distemper as themselves. “
I needed the encouragement to “look with an eye of kindness and pity on the faults of others,” rather than pridefully judging them. I must continually remind myself of my own sickness and of Christ’s great healing.
3. Brian Krieger
March 19, 2009
5:43 PM
I must continually remind myself of my own sickness and of Christ’s great healing.
Amem, Michael. Well, I agree for myself, not necessarily for you (ha ha).
While I was reading this chapter, I again thought, wow, this could have been written last year with some minor exceptions. One thing that I thought was great was the idea of depravity of the “most civilized”. It’s something I like to do and that is compare myself with “the worst” of mankind rather than the noblest (I wholly submit to total depravity, just in the realm of when I sinfully try to look down upon someone).
He hits it on the head again that we are to take this matter seriously (much as he mentioned for reading the scriptures).
4. Lisa
March 19, 2009
5:59 PM
I sum up chapter 2 like this:
Who are we trying to kid? We just don’t get how bad we are. If we did, we’d lean more heavily on God, and less on our own excuses.
Wilberforce does not go easy on us. And rightly so. How often do we talk about our “sin” anymore? It’s usually our weaknesses, or soft spots, or accidents, or problems, or addictions. “Sin” sounds too wicked.
The rest of my thoughts are here:
http://lisanotes.blogspot.com/2009/03/do-we-get-it-ch-2-real-christianity.html
5. Lerrina
March 21, 2009
1:00 PM
Having comprehended Wilberforce’s premise - many Christians are just ‘playing’ at Christianity - it came as no surprise to find him supporting his statements by beginning with sin. In fact, I would have been surprised had he started elsewhere. After all, this is the root of the problem. And, as he said, sin is terribly deceptive - then and now.
I started my two-part review of this chapter as follows, “Sin is a deceptive taskmaster. It bids us enter the virtual reality where all is grey, we are not really all that bad and God is really not all that holy. Then, it entices us to stay until we believe this virtual world is the real world.”
The rest of my review is posted on my blog: http://christianlivingtoday.today.com/ on March 13th and 14th.
What a wonderfully convicting read. Thank you, again Tim, for bringing it to our attention.
6. David Porter
March 21, 2009
7:21 PM
Hi Tim,
Great work @ the Ligonier Conference.
Once again, Wilberforce reminds me, along with Calvin, and Edwards, that a proper understanding of our total depravity is the only way to true humility.
If we think our slate clean, with the ability to move toward good, or evil, then this opens the door for pride.
As I begin to understand the whole council of the Scriptures, it is presented over, and over, and over.
We are completely, and thoroughly infected with the deadly disease of sin, and the only cure is our Great Physician.
Anything short of that understanding, requires more study, and/or a penitent heart towards our pride.
7. Naomi Goegan
March 24, 2009
3:56 AM
Being new to Calvinism I was grappling with the paradox between predestination and human responsibility (I’m sure there’s a name for that I’m not aware of). So I put off reading Wilberforce and instead have been listening to a panel discussion I found on GTY and reading John 6.
Well, as I caught up on my reading tonight, I was pleasantly suprised that Ch.2 closed with some of Wilberforce’s insight into this very topic along with scripture like 2 Peter 3:9, Ezekiel 18:32, Romans 11:33, Psalm 97:2, Deuteronomy 29:29.
Not suprisingly, as I read this chapter I found the remains of my “primitive dignity” wanting to disagree and point out the good people do at times and the moments of pure sweetness in some of the acts of my children. But what Wilberforce and scripture clearly states is true, I need look no further than within to know it. And anyone who denies it should be first in line to offer up their internal dialogue for evidence.
8. Lisa
March 24, 2009
7:48 AM
Naomi,
I appreciate your honesty, and I love your last statement—its truth is painful but instructive. If my “internal dialogue” from any random hour were printed out, it would provide enough evidence to have me easily convicted of the natural depravity of man.