Enraged, but not surprised

That question sums up a good deal of the argument of this chapter, and it illustrates the willful blindness of all human beings — Gentiles and Jews alike — to the enormity and ubiquity of Sin. We should not be surprised that there is evil “in” any human being. We should not expect to see some great accession of righteousness to occur with the bar mitzvah or any other “call to the commandment.” We should not continue to be perpetually surprised that people “find so much evil” within themselves and others. We should never cease to be shocked, grieved, even enraged — but we should never be surprised, for “all men, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin” (Rom. 3:9).—Fleming Rutledge, The Crucifixion, 589