THE ERRORS OF THE "MAN IS A WORM" THEOLOGY

Webster's Online Dictionary defines the word depravity as the quality or state of being corrupt, evil, or perverted; the quality or state of being depraved.* The Depravity of Man is one of the key concepts of religious reformer John Calvin.  This along with the sovereignty of God and the doctrine of predestination are the key ideas of Calvin**

Calvin's philosophies were popular during the protestant reformation and are still found at the heart of many Christian denominations today. They originate from the belief that God preordained . . . a part of the human race, without any merit of their own, to eternal salvation, and another part, in just punishment of their sin, to eternal damnation ** It is a way of saying that since Eve ate the apple, all mankind are mere worms.

I mention this "man is a worm" theology because it, like many other of Satan's lies, is dancing around a basic truth, and missing it by 1000 miles.  Even being half-a-bubble off plumb, is still off. Just a degree off at the outset can lead one woefully astray.

Here are some examples from the scriptures to illustrate this point:

After Moses had his great theophany with the Lord on Mount Sinai, he said, Now for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I had never supposed. (Moses 1:10) 

On a different occasion, during his great theophany, the patriarch, Abraham, learned that men (and women) are the literal spiritual children of Heavenly Parents and were created in God's own image. (See Abraham 3) 

Finally, the Psalmist wrote, When I consider all the works of thy fingers,. . . what is man that thou art mindful of him. . . for thou hast made him a little lower than the angels. (Psalm 8: 3, 5)  

Man is in a fallen state during his probation on this earth, but that does not diminish the truth that we are all children of God with divine potential to become like Him.  We are not predestined to anything, but are free to choose for ourselves.  When we choose wrong - and we all will - we are given the supernal blessing of repentance and of forgiveness through the atonement of Jesus Christ. While we need to recognize our mistakes and repent of them, we have hope in a glorious future through our Savior.

King Benjamin understood this concept in a way John Calvin never could. The Prophet Mormon tells us that after the king had taught his people about the fall and the atonement, they were awakened to a clear understanding of their own carnal state. (Mosiah 4: 1, 2) They fell upon the ground and cried out for forgiveness through the atonement of Jesus  Christ. Mormon tells us that their cries were heard and their sins were forgiven and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come. (Mosiah 4:3)

Man cannot comprehend the Atonement until one recognizes why he needs the atonement.  That is why Book of Mormon prophets taught the fall and the atonement together.  Only in this way can mankind understand both.

© Dr. Kathleen Rawlings Buntin Danielson, April 2020

* https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depravity

** https://www.newsmax.com/FastFeatures/christian-theology-calvinist-denominations/2016/01/05/id/708227/