In his post he list four possible solutions along with reasons why they can't be right. I believe his number three comes closest to how I see things.
#3 Total Depravity is total; however, the Imago Dei remains but is tainted in such a way that nothing pure comes from any of it.
His critique of this position is as follows,
#3 is problematic because one could argue that there are things that Man creates that are perfect or at least profoundly good that would argue against taint. For instance, in what way is Handel's Messiah "imperfect" as a piece of music? Or Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata? One could say that in order to be perfect, those works would have to appeal to all men at all times in all places. But is that the true test of perfection? Yes, the instruments used to play those works may not be in perfect tune, but the idea of those works as they existed in the minds of those composers would mitigate that issue.
The other problem about #3 is asking the other side of the perfection issue: In what way are those works tainted by sin? Yes, their creators are tainted by sin. There's no reason to believe that Beethoven was ever a born-again Christian, so this muddies the water further, since the Moonlight Sonata is sublimely beautiful. There is evidence that Beethoven wrote that piece in mourning for an unrequited love affair with a married woman, so his motives for writing it are questionable. But the greater question of the purity of the work as a work unto itself remains.
The gist of the argument is (and correct me if I'm wrong)thus we as fallen man are totally depraved, dead in sin. Not mostly dead, but all dead. Specifically spiritually dead. Furthermore,
since Imago Dei is contained within the immaterial part of man rather than the material part. Hence, death to spirit means death to the image of God.
I don't agree with the premise, let me try to illustrate while maintaining the metaphor. Here in the suburbs, we have quite the population of opossums. They don't know when to cross the street. I usually see a couple a month that have lost arguments with passing cars. It is not a pretty sight, but it still looks like an opossum. Sure the little guy's not as tall, and seems to have spread himself a little thin, but he's still recognizable.
So, I would say, yes, we are totally depraved. That is nothing in us is untouched by the fall, all aspects of creation have been perverted as a consequence of that event. Even twisted in death the indelible marks of our Creator show through. I suggest that this is part of the common grace given all mankind. To the glory of God.
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