Man's Sinful Nature
3 Sep 2005
Following the daring kidnapping of Adolf Eichmann by Israeli undercover agents in 1960, Eichmann, “the butcher of Auschwitz,” was transported from South America to Israel. There, he was put on trial for his unspeakable crimes against humanity. A string of concentration camp survivors were called as witnesses against this man who had personally executed a number of Jews and overseen the slaughter of millions more.
One of the witnesses, Yehiel Dinur, collapsed in uncontrollable sobbing as soon as he entered the courtroom and caught sight of the man in the bulletproof glass booth. When asked later about the reason for his collapse, Dinur explained that Eichmann was not a monster as he had expected, but an ordinary human being. Thus, Dinur explained, “I was afraid about myself. I saw that I am capable to do this…exactly like he.” Dinur concluded with a shocking and sobering observation, “Eichmann is in all of us.”
Over and over we read in the press how shocked everyone was at the speed with which storm ravaged New Orleans deteriorated into Third World conditions. No sooner had Hurricane Katrina left town than lawlessness took over. Boats being used to rescue trapped storm victims were being hijacked by gangs. Naked babies cried for food while men got drunk on stolen liquor. Storm refugees were being raped, beaten and robbed. Looters, shooters, and carjackers were everywhere. Even police officers deserted their posts and joined in the lawlessness, forcing the director of New Orleans’ Office of Emergency Preparedness, Joseph Matthews, to acknowledge, “This has turned into a situation where the city is being run by thugs.”
New Orleans, a city long renowned for its decadence, is suddenly finding sin unappealing and less celebratory. Stripped of its Mardi Gras masquerade costume, sin becomes quite appalling indeed. Although partied over by the Big Easy in times of plenty, sin is now preying upon the city in its time of need. Such is the sad and inevitable fate of all who fall for sin’s deceptive allure. Though it always poses as the most delightful of friends, sin is in the end the most deadly of fiends.
Whether we’re speaking of people in Third World countries or the populace of the world’s only remaining superpower, the sinful nature of man is the same worldwide. Sin, like Eichmann, is in us all. If you doubt this, just look at the deplorable state of affairs now on display in New Orleans. This most unflattering portrait of man’s fallen nature makes our desperate need of salvation abundantly clear. Hopefully, many will turn to Christ as a result of this natural disaster and its exposing of our dire spiritual straits, for it is Christ alone who can save us from ourselves (2 Corinthians 5:15).
Don Walton
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