Let me state in the beginning of this that I am not advocating or promoting the idea of total or even partial depravity. Nor am I advocating the concept of eternal, torturous punishment and judgment on the part of the creative source. I am referring to what the Christian bible calls sin. I am not even referring to sin as the evangelical orthodox idea that has engendered a connotative meaning for the word. I reject outright the connotation that main-stream conservative, fundamental and evangelical Christianity has given the concept of sin. With that made clear, I am not so naive as to claim that sin is not a problem in this world. All one need do is read the news, watch it on television, or have it live-streamed to understand that it is indeed a problem. Is it going to relegate some to hell while others find a way of escape? ABSOLUTELY NOT!
So let me define sin as I see it and as I believe it was
intended to be defined in the Christian scripture and within the moral codes of
other religious traditions. Focusing on the Christian bible it is translated
from two different words, from two different languages. In the New Testament it
is the Greek word hamartia, and in the Old Testament it is the
Hebrew word chata. Hamartia means to miss the
mark, and Chata means to miss the way. I have used the term
inherited sin in the title because of Richard Rohr. He doesn’t think that the
term original sin is accurate and quite frankly I agree with him. Since he
prefers inherited sin and uses it I feel like I’m in good company to use it as
well.
Why does inherited sin exist? Well, like the allegory in
Genesis chapter three states it is a combination of the knowledge of good and
evil, and death that is the cause. Here is the way I see it, the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil is a metaphor for human consciousness, and when
human consciousness develops within the individual to a certain point, they
become aware of the phenomenon of death which causes an apparent chasm of
separation between them and the creative source in their mind. This is why the
fear of death, thanatophobia is so commonplace. It arises from the individual
observing the reality of death, and not having the ability to be sure about
what happens after death, the natural conclusion is one of fear and dread.
Coupled with this is the survival instinct that is present in all living
things. This survival instinct along with the uncertainty and fear of death
develops greed. This is essentially the source of all sin.
The bridge between the knowledge of good and evil (human
consciousness) and death and separation from source is faith. This is why the
writer of Hebrews included this in his letter. Heb 2:14-15 “Since the children have flesh and
blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the
power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— (15)
and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” This
shows a direct benefit for faith in the resurrection. Faith in the resurrection
and the assurance of eternal life bridges the chasm of separation caused by
death. The knowledge of good and evil offers the opportunity for one to wonder
am I evil, and if one can wonder about it, one can conclude that perhaps they
are and thereby do not deserve to be eternal.
This is the importance for the gospel of the death, burial,
and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the resurrection of Jesus that
gives the assurance that all have eternal life. All you ask. Yes, all. Rom
5:18 “Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation
for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life
for all people.” The condemnation for all people is precisely the
result of the knowledge of good and evil (human consciousness.) Here is the
assurance that justification and eternal life is for all by the resurrection of
Jesus from the grave.
This is beneficial for all people. It is good news for all
people as well. It is indeed the good news. Not only is it good news but it is also
proof of the goodness and love of the creative source. This news sets a person
at ease. Once they truly comprehend that they are eternal and eternally loved
and accepted by a creative source that is good, they can then begin to set
aside the greed and the inherited sin in favor of loving and caring for the
other.
This is true for anyone from any religious tradition, and it
is not necessary that they change their traditions to receive the benefit of
this knowledge. In this way it is not necessary to say that there is no such
thing as inherited sin as so many who have rejected and deconstructed from
Christianity do. Rather, one can recognize inherited sin for what it is,
missing the mark or the way, and with the assurance of resurrection one can
begin to be more loving. This is as much the case for the one who believes that
resurrection involves reincarnation as it does for the individual that believes
that resurrection opens up a new plane of existence.
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