Our Condition
When Gabriel Chavez and Benjamin Diuguid asked me to be a writer for Authentic Depravity, I was very quick to accept. Frankly, I like the idea of writing for a publication that focuses on honesty, transparency, and reflection. I’ll always believe we’ll need more of that.
If you’ve been following this publication, then you know that Gabe and Ben have already written about the flaws in mankind. Before I continue though, I want to look at the definition of what it means to be depraved.
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depraved (adj.)
morally corrupt; wicked
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Believe it or not, this term is applicable to all of us. We are all depraved. This is our condition. It sucks to hear that, but it’s true. We might try to counter it by saying something like, “But I do a lot of good things, and I’m a good person.” Yeah, but it’s likely you do more bad than good.
The reality is that I’m selfish by nature and there’s nothing I can do on my own to change that.
The bad things we do aren’t always explicit or easy to detect. Sometimes it’s as subtle as being jealous of your friend who’s doing better than you in life or choosing not to forgive someone for a wrong they did against you. In my case, my depravity is apparent in what I’ll call my “lone-wolf” mentality. I confess that I have a tendency to be independent and in control. Part of that is pride and part of that is how I keep people at a distance so they can’t discover the ugly and embarrassing secrets I bury deep inside because I want people will like me.
The reality is that I’m selfish by nature and there’s nothing I can do on my own to change that. That’s where I need a solution and that’s where Jesus steps into the picture. Because He’s in my life, I can find hope beyond my shortcomings and a solution to the this depravity that I cannot shake.
This is Authentic Depravity and I look forward to sharing more with you.
