Let me preface this post by saying that my comments here have nothing at all to do with non-Christians. I know many non-Christians- some who would call themselves atheist- who are wonderful, kind, compassionate and generous people. This post is not about them. It's about me. That may sound self-indulgent, but it is after all MY blog.
Like any good theology student I have studied and pondered the 5 points of Calvinism or Reformed Theology. Also like a good theology student, I remember them as TULIP.
Total Depravity
Unconditional Election
Limited Atonement
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance of the Saints
On any given day, I may or may not agree with one or more of these points. Most days, people would say I'm a 2 point Calvinist, but those 2 points may be different than the day before. Yes, I'm one of those annoying people who will tell you that I adhere to neither political party. "I vote for the person not the party." Yada, yada, yada. What can I say? I'm stubborn and independently minded. I like to go against the grain and question EVERYTHING!
Today however, I'm believing in the T of Tulip. I am totally depraved and I believe the human race as a whole is too. You, see I've been reading about the holocaust and just finished a book about one woman's captivity in Iran. Then I think about all of the atrocities committed by we humans. Some may be no big deal by societies standards, while others are the things that turn your stomach, or at the very least make you go hmmmm. Don't get me wrong. I know there is good out there. And most days, I choose the right over the wrong choice. But it's not on my own power. Without God's grace and the love and example of Jesus, I don't know what I might do! I mean seriously. Could I sink as low as some of the leaders from events and ideas I abhor throughout history? If I'm able to lie to loved ones, cheat, bend the law to fit my needs, judge strangers, am I not also capable of much worse? Today I am thankful that most days I am able to distinguish right from wrong and choose right. This is what one of my theology professors would call biblical wisdom. I am thankful because I know it is Jesus' love for me and my desire to please him in return that gives me that wisdom. So, I sit here and admit that (at least for today) I believe I am totally depraved!
I'll end this post much as I began. What motivates my non-believing friends to do good? I don't know. I just know they do it. Do they struggle with the pull to do wrong when they know they should do right? Again, I don't know. I guess they'll have to work that out in their own theology. Yep, that's what I said. Whether we believe in God or not, we all ascribe to some theology. But that's a post for another day!
