What do you think this means?

[jjdward]

I have been attending a Church and in one of the Articles of their Constitution is says:
"We believe in the total and universal depravity of the human family."
My thought is that by human family, they mean the human race. That man by nature is bad and that we must choose weather or not to follow God or not. Now I don't want to start a theological debate, I'm just needing a little help with what the sentence means. Thanks!!!

 

[LizFM]

Merriam-WEbster online:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depraved

Main Entry: de·praved
Pronunciation: \\di-ˈprāvd\\
Function: adjective
Date: 14th century

: marked by corruption or evil; especially : perverted

Wow. Depravity, unlike some other terms they could have used (like corruption, which in Christian terms doesn't mean the same as when describing a politician), is most definitely NOT a remotely neutral term.

I think you've hit the nail on the head when you say they seem to be stating that humans by nature are bad (edited to add: really bad...since they are saying depraved instead of imperfect or corrupt or a whole lot of other terms they could have used).

I don't think I'd be attending that church again. Would you mind saying what church it is?

Any chance they used the wrong term by accident? The term "human family" seems to be inconsistent with the term "depravity."

If I was writing something like that, I would say: 'universal depravity of humanity'

Edited to add: Sorry, I focused more on the term depravity than the use of human family...same result tho in terms of the meaning of the phrase. Usually when someone is using the term 'human family' they chose the term to emphasize our connectedness or something positive. It's just a very awkwardly worded sentence. I do not agree that a small child is as 'depraved' as a serial killer or child molester. If I were Christian and believed in original sin, I would agree that a small child is as imperfect and sinful as any other human. But that's different.​

 

[jjdward]

Quote:
Wow. Depravity, unlike some other terms they could have used (like corruption, which in Christian terms doesn't mean the same as when describing a politician), is most definitely NOT a remotely neutral term.

I think you've hit the nail on the head when you say they seem to be stating that humans by nature are bad.

I don't think I'd be attending that church again. Would you mind saying what church it is?

Any chance they used the wrong term by accident? The term "human family" seems to be inconsistent with the term "depravity."

If I was writing something like that, I would say: 'universal depravity of humanity'

Like I was thinking, by human "family" I think they meant humanity.

 

[jjdward]

I beleive that the nature of a godless man is bad. The Bible says there is nothing good in my flesh. But to me when a person takes Crist as his savior, the Holy Ghost is in his heart and directs him toward the good. Not that we always follow. Know what I mean?

 

[CedarRidgeChicks]

I will step out on the limb here..the depravity of man to me means..all men are sinners until reborn in Christ (removing that sin)..the reason we are born in a state of depravity is a result of the original sin by Adam/Eve.

 

[jjdward]

Quote:
My thoughts to a T !! But I just wanted some other ideas to compare to.

 

[LizFM]

Quote:
I agree that it says that. But depravity? Depravity (to me) indicates a whole other level.

"For all have sinned" is not equal (in my mind, based on the usage of the terms) to "all are depraved".

You are correct though that it's probably not appropriate to discuss anything more than "what does this phrase mean" on this particular board.

 

[saddina]

Depraved is a word used when something is so evil it's vile. It's a rather loaded word choice. It's stating that by being human we're fouled. Add the words total and universal.... eh...

I dunno man, not a real warm fuzziness there, ya know?

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
Hit the nail on the head. Thanks!

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Quote:

depravity = human sin nature