April 20, 2020
Today is Monday. As Americans, we traditionally think of it
as the beginning of the week. Beginnings can be scary. At the beginning of any
new adventure things can go wrong. Typically, because we are seeing, listening, and
believing faulty sources.
When we think of humanity, from a theological point of view,
the “first impression” I have is “sin.” Sin, in the Bible is both a noun and a
verb. As a noun, sin refers to our “sinful nature.” As a verb, sin refers to
what we do (commit) or what we do NOT do (omit) that violates the law of God. This “sinful nature” is inherited from Adam, the first man.
“The Fall” is descriptive of the event that brought all
humanity under condemnation and chained us to the self-destructive sinful nature.
Simply put, sin is toxic. How do we detoxify ourselves from sin? I am so glad
you asked!!!
Speaking about “the Fall,” John Wesley suggested self-will (selfishness) leads to
foolish desires. James put it this way, “Everyone
is tempted by their own cravings; they are lured away and enticed by them. Once
those cravings conceive, they give birth to sin; and when sin grows up, it
gives birth to death.” [James 1:14 – 15 CEB] When we exercise unbelief, rebellion, and pride; we put our desires above what is right. Wherever there is sin, there is selfishness. These “cravings”
start a chain reaction resulting in sin and death (both spiritual and physical). Or as another translation puts it, “Our desires make us sin,
and when sin is finished with us, it leaves us dead.” [James 1:5 CEV]
When Adam sinned, the divine moral image (the "imago dei" for the scholars out there) was lost, rendering
us unable to love and obey God as we are designed to do. Our refusal to
return God’s love is at the heart of Wesley’s description of the fall of
humanity into sin. We become like the ungrateful child, who rather than
thinking about the free food, the free clothes, the free place to stay; become
focused on what we perceive to be limits place on us. We do not understand God has built the fence to section
off the dangerous, harmful, and toxic things of life. God's desire is to keep us safe. The sinful nature demands
we live chained, choking inside the toxic confines of the fence, while life and freedom are just outside our reach.
In Genesis 3, Satan began the temptation with a question: “Did
God really say that you shouldn’t eat from any tree in the garden?” [Genesis
3:1b CEB] Notice the devil misquotes
God. On top of misquoting God, it is an exaggeration. The exaggeration reframes
God’s intent from freedom to restriction. Casting God as someone who wishes to
restrict, Satan suggests God is unreasonable. Basically, the power of doubt it the destruction of belief.
“The snake said to the
woman, “You won’t die! God knows that on the day you eat from it, you will see
clearly and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” [Genesis 3:4 CEB]
Satan then lies, suggesting God has lied. The challenge is, who are you going to believe? Continuing to plant doubt, the devil hints God is keeping something good from us. Satan challenges
God’s authority to do what is promised and God’s character in wanting the best for us.
Eve made three mistakes. Eve talked to Satan. Notice Adam
did not say a word. Adam became passive when his wife needed him the most. Eventually Adam
sinned willfully. Eve was tricked, so she is not blamed for the sinful nature of
humanity. The second mistake she made, Eve misquotes God. The original prohibition
about the tree was given to Adam. It’s reasonable to conclude the origin of the
misquote came from Adam. Also notice, Adam did not correct her.
Finally, Eve believed Satan. “Unbelief” is not believing God, instead believing the lies Satan tells.
What were the desires that lured and enticed Eve. I am so
glad you asked!!! But fortunately this is a blog not a book; so check back
tomorrow for the answer!
