Original Gangsta
Sin. We all do it, right?
So, what’s this business with Original Sin?
I was reading that the Emergent Church (which I didn’t even hear about until this week… where have I been, right?) is denouncing the belief in Original Sin. The website I was reading from seemed pretty upset about the whole situation, claiming that it’s Biblical and that ALL Christians should believe it too.
Well, I’m not terribly sure about the whole thing, but, having been indoctrinated (in a good way) for most of my life, I think I know what Original Sin is. It’s the idea that every single one of us is inherently sinful.
I don’t like that. To start with, I have a hard time saying that babies are immediately sinful and destined for Hell if they don’t turn their lives to Jesus as soon as possible. I don’t, personally, think God is that simple. I’m with the idea that babies all go to Heaven because any thing they may do, they have no real concept of right and wrong. (I also think that my pets are in Heaven, playing together, but I digress)
Now, I’ve been in church for a long time, so hearing the words Original Sin isn’t new to my Christianese-addicted ears, but I think this was the first time that I really thought about the whole situation. Personally, I think I’m going to have to disagree with the idea. It seems like some sort of cop-out to a bigger problem, but then again, I’m still on the fence about Predestination… So, I guess that’s where the real meat of the matter is.
I decided to look it up on Bible Gateway, and typed in “Original Sin.” No results.
So, I went back to the original place I saw this post about the Emergent Church. They sited Ephesians 2:1
” 1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.”
But, I’m not satisfied with that because it’s Paul, and for me, Paul seems a bit inconsistent. A bunch of his writings are very specific to the time and place that he was writing. Like the bit about women not speaking in the church…
Paul was about the only author sited on this website as a source for the Biblical background for Original Sin.
So, naturally, I googled it. Not too many convincing BIBLICAL references to be honest, but I’m a skeptic, so who knows. Although, it was a movie with Angelina Jolie and Antonio Banderas, and that’s interesting. I guess.
So, to recap: It’s not a sin not to believe in Original Sin… or is it?
What do you think? Have a Biblical reference to share? Do you think babies go to Heaven?
Original Sin is a weighty issue that is often misunderstood. Paul seems a bit flighty but that is because we don’t let context work for us. Each letter is written with a purpose and we often have to infer those purposes based on what is said. It is sort of like listening to me wife talk on the phone. I here what she is saying but not what the other person is saying.
Paul writes some general truths but he also write some things very specific to the people receiving the letter. After all, we can be expected to relay messages to people who have been dead for nearly 2000 years but he gives those instructions in many of his letters.
As for the idea of original sin I think reading Romans is a great place to get a grasp of what Paul is saying on the matter. He is building a legal case against all of mankind in this letter. He explains how God has revealed Himself in all creation and even written His law on the hearts of man so none can plead ignorance when they sin, and each does sin on their own. This is the key. When Paul speak of original sin here he talks about how Adam brought sin and death into the world. We are not condemned because of Adam’s sin. We were not created to decay and die. That is the consequence of original sin. We will die and so have a time limit on responding to the grace and love of God.
Of course one can delve further into the theology built around this and find that often we are misinformed as to what the teachings on the subject are. For example the RCC and some other reformed churches practice infant baptism. This is because of original sin and the desire to impart grace so that they might enter heaven. This leads many to think that the essential teaching is that children who are not baptized are condemned to eternal punishment. This has never been the teaching of the RCC. Rather the prior teaching was that these lives would be in limbo, which is also misunderstood. Specifically they are not in a bad place at all. In fact it is a good place but they are not given “the beatific vision” That is they do not get to see God in His full glory which is the point of heaven.
Of course this has been clarified recently by Pope Benedict (whatever number he is). The most recent statement is that we have no idea how far grace reaches and that the many unbaptized children may well enter into the fullness of heaven.
It is my personal believe from reading the Bible, the traditions, and thoughtful consideration that we are all created to spend eternity with God. This is our “default setting” at birth. As we go down the path towards heaven they are a great many side roads. At some point when we are consciously able to decide between right and wrong we choose wrong. In essence we take one of those side roads and that choice leads us to destruction. The existence of those side roads and the length of time we have to travel this road is because of original sin, but our choices are the basis for our own judgment.
If a child, or an adult unable to choose right from wrong due to mental incompetence dies they have done no wrong because there is no will to do wrong. They cannot be held accountable to the Law and that is exactly what Paul is talking about in Romans. We are held accountable for our choices because we are aware of right and wrong. This means the inverse must also be true, we cannot be held accountable where we cannot be reasonably expected to know right from wrong.
I hope some of this helped. I kind of got on a bit of a soap box based on conversations in the men’s group last night on this very subject.
Nick-
No need to worry. That was very informative, and helpful. It’s nice to know that what I believe isn’t outright wrong. (At least not from your perspective! And a good one at that!)
I just got very confused on the whole thing when the website I was on was completely demonizing The Emergent Church specifically because of their denial of the Original Sin doctrine. And, while they have many other things going on that might not be okay, this seemed not so bad…
Thanks!
Being the “good Southern Baptist” that I am, likewise, I believe in the concept of Original Sin. As Paul said in Romans, “For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.” But as Nick, pointed out, I also believe that those who are not aware of right and wrong aren’t sentenced to an after-life in Hell, since they were never able to choose. For the rest of us, though, there is only one way into heaven—acceptance of Christ Jesus as personal Lord & Savior. As He stated, He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no one comes to the Father, except through Him. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:8 & 9)