Tqm

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of total depravity and would lead to distrust of the worker, as Ishikawa claims.
However, a closer look at the doctrine of total depravity shows us that it is compatible
with Total Quality and its Theory Y assumptions because of the working of God's
common grace.
Common grace is defined as general operations of the Holy Spirit whereby He,
without renewing the heart, exercises such a moral influence on man that sin is
restrained, order is maintained in social life, and civil righteousness is promoted.14 So,
while the doctrine of total depravity insists that man is by nature evil, God's common
grace prevents man from being as evil in his thoughts and actions as it is possible for
him to be.
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Lesson One - Introduction to TQM, Management Thinkers, Deming and his Management
Principles
The primary means of common grace is God's general revelation. This revelation of
the Holy Spirit is to all men and is revealed externally and internally. Concerning
external revelation we read in Psalm 19, "The heavens declare the glory of God; And
the firmament shows His handiwork." Also, in Romans 1:19-20 Paul states: "Because
what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For
since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and glory."
Concerning the internal revelation of the Spirit we are told in Romans 2:15 that the
Gentiles "show the work of the law written in their hearts."
Common grace is manifested in a number of ways. First, even though natural man is
totally depraved, sin is restrained in the life of the individual. This view is expressed
by the 18th century theologian Jonathan Edwards:
There are in the souls of wicked men those hellish principles reigning,
that would presently kindle and flame out into hell-fire, if it were not
for God's restraints. ...The souls of the wicked in Scripture are
compared to the troubled sea, Isaiah LVII, 20. For the present God
restrains their wickedness by His mighty power, as He does the
raging waves of the troubled sea, saying, Hitherto shalt thou come,
and no further."15
An example of God restraining sin in the life of the unregenerate is given in Genesis
20:6. In speaking to Abimelech in a dream, God says, "Yes I know that you did this in
the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me."
Another example is found in Genesis 31:7; concerning Jacob, it states, "Yet your father
has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt
me."
Second, common grace is shown in that unregenerate man still has a sense of truth,
and reveals a desire for morality.16 This is discussed in Romans 2:14-15, "For when
the Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things contained in the law,
these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the
law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between
themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them." This can be observed in
non-Christian cultures such as Japan's, which display morality and respect for family
and the worker. In this country, people of faiths other than Christianity show a high
degree of morality and a strong work ethic.
Third, God's common grace to unregenerate man is shown in that he is capable of
performing natural good, or civil righteousness.17 For example, Jehu, one of Israel's
kings, did not love God. However, in II Kings 10:30, God commended him for his
good deeds: "And the Lord said to Jehu, 'Because you have done well in doing what
is right in My sight, and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, your
sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation. " In Luke 6:33, Jesus tells
us that sinners can perform good acts: "And if you do good to those who do good to
you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same."
It is God's grace that allows men to even desire to do good. As a result they develop
skills and abilities, harness the forces of nature, and make positive contributions to the
cultural, scientific and social welfare of the world.18
Common grace, then, restrains sin in the lives of totally depraved men, gives
unregenerate men a sense of morality, and enables them to perform outwardly good
acts. As the Christian reformer John Calvin states:
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Total Quality Management
Whenever we come upon these matters in secular writers, let that
admiral light of truth shining in them teach us that the mind of man,
though fallen and perverted from its wholeness, is nevertheless clothed
and ornamented with God's excellent gifts. ...Shall we deny that the
truth shone upon the ancient jurists who established civic order and
discipline with such great equity? Shall we say that the philosophers
were blind in their fine observation and artful description of nature?
...Shall we say that they are insane who developed medicine, devoting
their labor to our benefit? ...No, we cannot read the writings of the
ancients on these subjects without great admiration. ...But shall we
count anything praiseworthy or noble without recognizing at the same
time that it comes from God? ...Those men whom Scripture calls
'natural men' were, indeed, sharp and penetrating in their
investigation of inferior things. Let us, accordingly, learn by their
example how many gifts the Lord left to human nature even after it was [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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