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.”
Romans 3:10-18 (NIV)
The world would have little patience for a doctor who prescribed an aspirin for diabetes. Good medicine requires proper diagnosis and treatment. The same principle holds for education. If the teacher cannot read the pupil’s condition, a classroom cure is doubtful. Yet many schools hire teachers unfamiliar with the realities of the human heart. As humanistic romantics, these instructors misdiagnose the root problem, and their prescriptions are often ineffective, if not harmful.
The Apostle Paul is no romantic; his diagnosis of human nature could scarcely be grimmer. He charges that the natural man is afflicted with wickedness (v. 10), ignorance (v. 11), impiety (vv. 11-12), worthlessness (v. 12), mendacity (v. 13), profanity (v. 14), treachery (vv. 15-17), and brazenness (v. 18). His point is that man cannot save himself, since his behavior is saturated in sin; faith in Christ is the only hope.
While these verses are nested in a salvation passage, this teaching on the doctrine of original sin extends to a variety of social concerns, including public education. If classrooms are filled with splendid young people, brimming with good intentions and admirable impulses, then teachers are primarily facilitators, helping the healthy buds to bloom. If, to the contrary, the desks are occupied with nascent barbarians, the teacher has the more challenging task of molding character and instilling discipline. Instead of celebrating the raw expression of whatever may be inside the pupil’s heart, the grader critiques the composition on rational and moral grounds. Affirmation is given, but only when affirmation is due. Self-esteem is encouraged when there is something to esteem.
There is great profit and acclaim for those who are skilled at telling people they are basically insightful and good. On the other hand, those who say the soul is flawed can be very unpopular. So the Church must exercise a fair amount of courage in offering the world a reality check. Right thinking people will be thankful, much as they are for the doctor who knows and tells them the truth, even when it is disappointing. There is no substitute for an accurate appraisal of the situation, whether one desires heaven or simply an effective school system.