Debunking the Theology That Man is Basically Good


It's a humanistic idea that man is basically good. It can be read some Catholic faith defender blogs, it can be heard in some of their programs and some of them actually promote the idea of liberation theology in which man is basically good and that the capitalist system has enslaved man. And that by fighting for their freedom from the social, economic and political chains can man be freed. Hmmm... sounds like Communism doesn't it?  This is also the heresy of Pelagius and Arminius, both heretics who denied original sin.

On the other hand, what does the Bible say about the idea of man being basically good? Not at all.

Romans 1:21-32 gives this description of the natural man to be:
  • Rejects God even with the knowledge of God (v. 21)
  • Professes to be wise but is a fool (v. 22)
  • Changed the glory of God with animals (v. 23)
  • Given up unto uncleanliness (v. 24)
  • Changed the truth of God into a lie and worshiped the creature instead (v. 25)
  • Given up unto vile affections (v. 26)
  • Homosexuality is a result of vile affections and sinfulness (v. 27)
  • Given over to a reprobate mind for not retaining God in their knowledge (v. 28)
  • Filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, backbiters, investors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, convent breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful (v. 29-21)

Romans 3:4-19 gives this description of the natural man to be:
  • Liar (v. 4)
  • None is righteous (v. 10)
  • None that understands and seeks after God (v. 11)
  • Gone astray and none does good (v. 12)
  • Throat is an open grave with tongues of poison (v. 13)
  • Mouth full of cursing and bitterness (v. 14)
  • Feet swift to shed blood (v. 15)
  • Destruction and misery are their ways (v. 16)
  • Way of peace not known (v. 17)
  • No fear of God (v. 18)
  • Guilty before God (v. 19)

1 Corinthians 2:14 also says, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned." Yup how true. And the fact that man is tainted with sin does not make man basically good.

1 Timothy 1:8-11 also says, "But we know that the Law is good if a man use it lawfully; knowing this, that the Law is not made for a righteous man but for the lawless and the disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was commited to my trust." That means again, if man is basically good then there would be no need for the Law. It would also violate the fact that man is tainted with sin thanks to Adam too!

Also if man is basically good, would man be in need of the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior? Nope. Now to deal with this fact: the Lord Jesus Christ came to die for the UNGODLY (Romans 5:5-8) and if man is basically good then there's no reason why Christ should die for the sins of mankind because they have achieved righteousness by the Law (Galatians 2:21). And face it- also if man is basically good, then when would man never need God's grace to get saved and result to a life of good works too (Titus 2:11-15).