Isn’t Man Basically Good?

World War I was called “The War to End All Wars.” Why? It’s carnage of 20 million deaths was so horrific, people believed that no nation would conduct a major war again. Their belief was upended only 21 years later, when World War II resulted in 60 million deaths, three times that of WWI. Despite their 80 million deaths, these wars were not horrific enough to prevent warfare and belie mankind’s inherent goodness.

The combatants on one side of WWI were called the Triple Alliance. Theologian Nicky Gumbel uses “Triple Alliance” to describe our spiritual war, the war against the very things that prevent mankind from being good. He cites Cardinal Reniero Cantalamessa, who says we are battling a Triple Alliance of evil, comprised of: 1. the enemy within us— the “Flesh;” 2. the enemy around us— the “World;” and 3. the enemy above us— the “Devil.”

Just as WWI battles against the Triple Alliance did not end war, our spiritual battle against the triple alliance of evil is unending and as a result, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Rom 3:23. But the good news is that we have protection against the evil causes of sin—“the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, and on those whose hope is in his unfailing love… He is our help and our shield.” Ps 33:18, 20.

Man is not basically good, but he can compensate by seeking God’s help.