Reformation Monday: "Original" sin

Not quite like an original movie, made just for Hallmark or Netflix. Original Sin is the idea that there was one sin committed a long time ago that has 'stuck' to every other human being conceived in the universe.

The Bible tells this cunning story about a crafty serpent who entices Adam and Eve  to take a bite of the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3).  The Church has named this 'original sin' which folks are always arguing is a ridiculous concept; folks are only responsible for what they have committed themselves.  Well, I don't completely agree with that but that is a conversation for another day.

What was the sin?  A little fruit before dinner? Believe it or not, scholars have varying ideas about exactly what the sin was, but here are the top two ideas:  Adam and Eve wanted to know Good from Evil.  Now you and I might think that would be terribly helpful in navigating this crazy world, but underlying this desire is a desire to be like God.  Wow!  That's not only a stretch but it's not possible for humans to be gods.  They are  humans, a 'little lower than the angels' but lower all the same. It is a form of idolatry.

This leads to the second interpretation, which is a lot like the first:  Adam and Eve refused to be obedient to God's commands, which, as humans, was what they were supposed to do.  God - who is the source of all life - is to command and humans are to obey.  If you won't obey, and you want to make the decisions yourself, well, you are pretending to be like God.  There is only ONE GOD, and humans are not it.

Thus Original Sin.  In the end, each one of us wants to be in charge.  We want to be perfect, or at least, more perfect than the next guy.  It's like the game of golf: there is no perfect score, only scores which are better than others.  Yet.....  we always keep score.  We always play to win.  We like to brag about our prowess - which naturally compares us to other players.  This is as  common as breathing for humankind.

Now don't go getting yourself all worked up about guilt and impossible expectations and the Church always judging everyone.  All I am saying here is this is how the Church describes the reality in which we all live and move and have our being:  we are scorekeepers and we want to be in charge.  Even the  most pious among us knows that this is true in spite of our good intentions.  This is what it looks like to be human.

How then, can we live more fruitful lives?  Lives that are more in tune with God's desire for all of creation?

Well, that's a question for another day.  Peace my friends.