Total Depravity and the Kelsey Smith Murder

Most of the nation has heard of the horrific murder of newly graduated Kelsey Smith of Overland Park, the same city our church is in. Kelsey was coming out of a local Target store when a man abducted her and eventually strangled her to death, leaving her body near Grandview, Missouri. I have seen interviews with Kelsey's family and they break my heart. At the same time, I am amazed at the poise and grace her family has shown at this devastating time. I have been told the Smith family are members of Hillcrest Covenant Church and trust Christ.

I won't pretend to make sense of this. I am as mad as anyone this could happen. It is so wrong. How can human beings be so wicked as to perpetrate such a crime, especially in a seemingly random way?

It was eery watching the surveillance video of the suspected killer leaving the Target store shortly before the youthful Smith. He likely timed his exit to be in a place of ambush when Kelsey came out. I've seen the mugshots of this suspected killer, identified as Edwin Hall. He is a man who is married with one young son. I don't know if he is indeed the killer, however, in addition to the video evidence and an apparently incriminating "Myspace.com" page, the criminal complaint already lists over 100 potential witnesses that could be called in some capacity to convict this man. More witnesses will likely be identified before a trial begins and I suspect there's a bunch of forensic evidence lining up against him as I write. He looks strange- vacant eyes, stone cold expression, but evil?

Such a case shakes me at a human level. At first, I get furious with the individual-whom I don't even know- who has apparently done such a wicked thing. Honestly, I'm still at that point on this one. Eventually though, I start to assess the general wickedness of mankind because of sin, then the radical corruption of my own heart. I begin to wonder how wicked I would be- what evil things I would do- if it were not for my redemption through Christ and God the Holy Spirit now indwelling me. I can do some pretty sinful things this side of regeneration, what would I be like if not for the saving, changing, grace of God? I shutter to think. Still, even then, the level of wickedness the killer of Kelsey has gone- by God's grace- is relatively rare.

I am drawn to Scripture and the clear, undeniable teaching that must be considered afresh. Every person (besides Christ) is born bad. We are sinful, evil, and totally depraved. Sin corrupts the whole person- the emotions, will, and intellect. No part of us is untouched by sin. Union with Christ by faith breaks the power of sin over us, but even then, in a moment of surrender to the old nature, believer's can do some horrendous things. How anyone could have an optimistic view of man's nature by reading the bible or observing reality is beyond me. Scripture is lucid on this point, we see it most vividly early in Genesis-

Genesis 6:5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

What is man like? "the thoughts of his heart were only evil continually." This is the truth about mankind. Sending the flood to wipe out man didn't change the sinfulness of man, it only delayed the spread of evil and thwarted the devil's attack on the Messianic Seed. Man has not changed. Apart from the saving action of God, a person will live out all manner of evil in his or her life. Some will be worse than others , like Kelsey's killer, but all will be continually given over to various sins. After Noah's Ark rested and a burnt offering was given to the Lord, notice God's Word-

Genesis 8:21 And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done."

The total depravity of man is a constant, honest, refrain in Scripture:

Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things,and desperately sick;who can understand it?

Really, if we are honest about the condition of man, no acts of wickedness are out of the question. It is only the grace of God that restrains evil from causing total sinful anarchy. While I hope we never grow shocked at crimes like this, such atrocities should cause us to do an honest evaluation of how bad our collective sin problem really is.

Paul's inspired words to the Ephesians (and to us) really give us the answer we need-

Ephesians 2:1-10 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

The solution to our depravity (and the sure judgment it will bring) is the righteousness of Christ imputed to us. The solution to society's manifold wickedness is the transformation of people by God through Christ. The Kelsey Smith murder should cause us to confess our sins and throw ourselves upon Christ anew. We need Jesus, each of us individually and all of us collectively. As John Newton is credited with saying- we are great sinners but Christ is a great Savior. More than that even, according to Ephesians 2 above, He is the great transformer.

When I see the expressionless mugshot of Edwin Hall:

1. I remember the pictures of Kelsey I have seen and the absolute hideousness of what he has allegedly done.

2. I get mad at him. I get mad at all such evil. I grieve for his wife and child.

3. I pray for Kelsey's family and friends, this is an unspeakably difficult time for them and a permanent hurt going forward, even with the joyful knowledge that Kelsey is with Christ according to those who knew her relationship with the Lord.

4. I realize there is a fine line between me and Edwin Hall. The difference is Christ.

5. I/we must be about introducing people to Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can remedy human depravity.