Do Christians view people as generally evil?

[DarkProphet]

One thing that I accept on faith is that people are generally good. One thing that bothers me about Christians is all the talk about how evil people are or how everyone is committing sins. Does this mean that Christians view people as generally evil?

 

[cutie76]

I don't think that people are evil, but sinful.

Adam condemned the human race to a sinful nature that everyone is born with.

Christ came to break that curse. The Blood of Jesus covers Christians so that their sins are hidden from God.

Those who are not Christian are no more sinful than Christians. However, the non-Christian does not have their sins hidden, but exposed.

 

[DarkProphet]

I a little confused. What do you mean by having there sins hidden? Also how is being sinful different from being evil?

 

[tapero]

I a little confused. What do you mean by having there sins hidden? Also how is being sinful different from being evil?

Hi, not sure what she meant by hidden, and I'm sure she'll be back to answer, but our sins are covered by the blood (probably what she meant) and as He looks at a Christian he see's only righteousness through Christ.

We all sin. Some things we call evil, rape, murder, etc. They are also sins.

So any sinner can commit an evil act.

Blessings,
tapero

 

[DarkProphet]

We all sin. Some things we call evil, rape, murder, etc. They are also sins.

Does this mean that the distinction of being "evil" is a human construct and not a divine one? If that is the case then is it possible to commit an "evil" act and not be a sinner?

 

[childofGod31]

I think whoever thinks that all non-Christians are evil is mistaken.

There are some good people who are not Christians.

If you lied to somebody, you are still considered a good person (although you are a sinner in God's eyes). But if you killed somebody in cold blood, you are considered an evil person.

But nobody is perfectly good and that makes everybody a sinner in God's eyes. So both good and evil people need salvation and forgiveness for being a sinner.

So Christians, after accepting Christ and receiving forgiveness, are good. (although they are not perfectly good, but God doesn't hold it against them anymore).

And non-Christians - some are good and some are bad (And God holds their sins against them.)

 

[Digit]

One thing that I accept on faith is that people are generally good. One thing that bothers me about Christians is all the talk about how evil people are or how everyone is committing sins. Does this mean that Christians view people as generally evil?

I'm not sure where you are getting this stuff from. That's a huge blanket statement about all Christians which is just not true.

Digit

 

[DarkProphet]

I'm not sure where you are getting this stuff from.

I'm getting it from televangelists and a youth minister. While not all Christians make statements like that part of the Christian doctrine is that everyone has original sin and that it is impossible to be a non-sinner. So the question stands.

 

[Digit]

I disagree. The question is if we view people as evil. No, we don't, or at least we shouldn't . We love the sinner, not the sin. The sin is evil.

Digit

 

[ebia]

One thing that I accept on faith is that people are generally good. One thing that bothers me about Christians is all the talk about how evil people are or how everyone is committing sins. Does this mean that Christians view people as generally evil?

Not at all. People are all made in the Image of God. Unfortunately, that image is marred and hidden by our sin, but it's still there.

 

[cutie76]

I a little confused. What do you mean by having there sins hidden? Also how is being sinful different from being evil?

In the scripture, Colossians 3:2-4 it says:

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.


We are hidden in Christ and our sins are remembered no more when we ask for forgiveness.

In the Old Testiment God's people had to give a blood sacrafice to atone for their sins, but Jesus is that sacrafice for all people. He is the Lamb of God, whose Blood washes us clean from all sin.

 

[cutie76]

This is what the Word says:

Romans 3:9-21

No One is Righteous

9 What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. 10 As it is written:
"There is no one righteous, not even one;
11 there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one."
13 "Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit."
"The poison of vipers is on their lips."
14 "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."
15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 and the way of peace they do not know."
18" There is no fear of God before their eyes."

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

Righteousness Through Faith

21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. 29 Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

 

[salida]

DarkProphet--

Man has a sin nature; sin is when man transgresses against Gods laws. Yes, man is naturally sinful and therefore evil.

Even after one receives the Holy Spirit a man will never be sinless but your nature will change to the point you won't want to practice sin. Until then man will want to continue to sin because he is born with a fallen nature.

One is only sinless when they are in heaven.

 

[Rafael]

People are the special creation of God in His image, and He gave mankind the opportunity to share with Him as family and partake of His divine nature through Jesus. Talk about evil only when seeing how far the fall of mankind brings that special creation to death, as the potential for evil is greater in that which is spiritually dead to God since Adam's fall.
All men are born inheriting the sin and death nature of Adam, and that is why Jesus was born of a virgin, not receiving that inherited nature of sin and death from Adam. Jesus was able to live a sinless life before God and obeyed Him in giving His own life for all of mankind's sin.
There is the potential of God in man, but God, in His wisdom and will, has given man a choice to love and partake in an even fuller life with Him as family or to remain deceived, thinking mankind will ever rise above their nature of sin, selfishness, and egotism - to have power over others with little regard for their well being. We see this nature of man in the news everyday and the Bible says there will be one last great war that will bring mankind to the very brink of total destruction, starting in the Middle East, but effecting the whole world as it even does today.

Ro 5:17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

Jer 17:9 “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?
10 But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”

 

[tapero]

Does this mean that the distinction of being "evil" is a human construct and not a divine one? If that is the case then is it possible to commit an "evil" act and not be a sinner?

Hi, I'm so sorry I'm late to reply. Just spotted post.

Well, me and a friend are just discussing your question.

I say evil started with satan in heaven when he sinned and was cast to earth with 1/3 of the angels, so not necessarily of human constuct, however when adam and eve fell, then there was evil in the world. But with satan in the world there was evil in the world. hmmm satan is not a divine creature just for purposes of clarification.

My friend however says evil is of human construct.

I don't believe in any way that God created evil.

On your second portion:
I'm a little confused again. So your asking can someone do evil and not be sinning? hmm

Well, I guess you would know that I believe that all humans are sinners. (save Christ who is fully God and fully man and in which dwelt no sin)
Christians and non-Christians.
If I understand the 2nd portion correctly, my answer would be no. If one commits an evil act they are sinning.

When an evil act is done, it is against God's commands and admonishments and teachings. It also generally serves to hurt another person. Though the person could hurt themselves as well by doing evil and surely do, either by consequences or other effects.

God never desires any to do evil.

Please let me know if I totally misunderstood your question. I'll check back.

Thanks so much,
God bless,
tapero

 

[DarkProphet]

On your second portion:
I'm a little confused again. So your asking can someone do evil and not be sinning? hmm

Well, I guess you would know that I believe that all humans are sinners. (save Christ who is fully God and fully man and in which dwelt no sin)
Christians and non-Christians.
If I understand the 2nd portion correctly, my answer would be no. If one commits an evil act they are sinning.

When an evil act is done, it is against God's commands and admonishments and teachings.

The question I asked relates to how sin is defined so I made a new thread on that. For now lets suppose that we define sin to be either breaking one of Gods rules or to do something God condemns in the Bible. If we hold that view then it would be possible to be a none sinning slave owner (at least in the act of owning slaves) if that slave owner followed the regulations set forth in the Bible. However by modern standards we would view that slave owner as evil. This would not only imply that evil is a human construct but that God's rules are not inline with what we would view as evil.

 

[MelissaShae]

definition of evil

1 a : morally reprehensible : [SIZE=-1]SINFUL[/SIZE], [SIZE=-1]WICKED[/SIZE] <an evil impulse> b : arising from actual or imputed bad character or conduct <a person of evil reputation>
2 a archaic : [SIZE=-1]INFERIOR[/SIZE] b : causing discomfort or repulsion : [SIZE=-1]OFFENSIVE[/SIZE] <an evil odor> c : [SIZE=-1]DISAGREEABLE[/SIZE] <woke late and in an evil temper>
3 a : causing harm : [SIZE=-1]PERNICIOUS[/SIZE] [wash my mouth][wash my mouth][wash my mouth][wash my mouth]e evil institution of slavery> b : marked by misfortune : [SIZE=-1]UNLUCKY[/SIZE]

Satan and sins are evil and those who do the work of Satan are preforming evil doings. People are not evil but their actions are.

 

[aiki]

Jer. 17:9 - "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked..."

Isa. 53:6 - "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way..."

Isa. 64:6 - "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."

1 Jn. 1:8 - "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."

Eph 2:2, 3 - "Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience:
Among whom also we all had our conduct in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Peace to you.

 

[aiki]

If we hold that view then it would be possible to be a none sinning slave owner (at least in the act of owning slaves) if that slave owner followed the regulations set forth in the Bible. However by modern standards we would view that slave owner as evil. This would not only imply that evil is a human construct but that God's rules are not inline with what we would view as evil.

The World has a distinctly different moral code than that of God. In some respects this moral code coincides with what the Word of God teaches is right and wrong, but mainly, as you say, it is a human construct.

Could you go over what the Bible teaches about slavery? I'd like to see why you seem to think the Bible encourages slavery.

Peace to you.

 

[Deren]

One thing that I accept on faith is that people are generally good. One thing that bothers me about Christians is all the talk about how evil people are or how everyone is committing sins. Does this mean that Christians view people as generally evil?

Christians view people as created in God's image, yet have gone astray in their rebellion and sin against God. And only until there is forgiveness and restoration that come via God's grace and faith, people are "lost," "dead in trespasses and sins," and following the dictates of the world and the devil (Eph. 2:1-3). Hence, it's not so much how Christians view people personally that ought to bother you. It's how God sees people that ought to be your concern, particularly if you happen to be one of those who is lost.