What The Stanford Prison Experiment Teaches Us

The Stanford Prison Experiment was a project designed to find out how people use or misuse power over others. The BBC documentary at the link below will explain the background of this psychological exercise. Suffice it to say that it was a huge disaster.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4txhN13y6A

What many people don't realize, and refuse to believe, is that we all are born wicked. Live with a toddler for a while and you'll understand the assertion of Jeremiah 17:9. The Bible in Basic English says, "The heart is a twisted thing, not to be searched out by man: who is able to have knowledge of it?"

Holy Scripture makes it abundantly clear that not a single individual is righteous. As Psalm 14:3 (BBE) frankly admits, "They have all gone out of the way together; they are unclean, there is not one who does good, no, not one."

But, some might ask, aren't babies innocent? The truth is that we're all tainted by Adam's rebellion against the Father. According to 1 Corinthians 15:22 (KJV). "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."

Since this is so, who can go to heaven? Trusting God and obeying the gospel is the answer. As Paul said to the Athenians in Acts 17:30 and 31 (BBE), "Those times when men had no knowledge were overlooked by God; but now he gives orders to all men in every place to undergo a change of heart: Because a day has been fixed in which all the world will be judged in righteousness by the man who has been marked out by him for this work; of which he has given a sign to all men by giving him back from the dead."

When people gain power, they tend to be cruel. But God will punish those mighty rulers. Psalm 76:7-9 (BBE) declares regarding the Almighty, "You, you are to be feared; who may keep his place before you in the time of your wrath? From heaven you gave your decision; the earth, in its fear, gave no sound, When God took his place as judge, for the salvation of the poor on the earth. (Selah.).

What a relief it is to know that wicked rulers and powerful people won't get away with their crimes. The Lord's wrath is slow but absolutely sure.