In "The Problem of Pain," Lewis argues against total depravity, saying that if we are totally depraved how would we know that we are totally depraved. A fair question. The way I understand total depravity is that we are unable to do anything good toward God of our own accord. I reply that we can know that we are total depraved, but even in realizing our total depravity, we cannot do anything about it without God's help.The more I try to be good toward God without asking for His help, the more frustration I find in my life. The scriptures say that it is not up to "Man's effort, but God's mercy" (Romans).