I ca
nnot think how many times I’ve heard the phrase “Original Sin” with reference to our “fallen nature” or our struggle with Sin in our lives. It is foundational in the minds of most Christians, but is it a good foundation stone?
The classic Western evangelical position is that humanity sinned causing a separation from God, God couldn’t tolerate sin, so turned his back on us, but sent Jesus to die in our place to take our guilt, so that God would accept us again. God took his anger out on Jesus so that we could be saved. Does that sound familiar?
I often wonder why Christians have such a morbid fascination about Sin and sinning, when we are taught that Jesus has broken the power of death and overcome the power of evil in the world.
What would happen if we shifted from our focus on Original Sin to Original Innocence? Genesis ch1 states that God made us as image bearers of God’s character and essence. The plan was for us to flourish in a garden of peace and harmony with each other, and live in the continual awareness of God’s presence with us. Yet we forget about chapters 1 and 2, and jump straight to chapter 3, “The Fall”.
What would happen if we focused on what God made us to be instead of our failings and shortcomings? By continually focusing on our failings, we set our sights on what we have become instead of what we were intended to be.
Mike Erie (Voxology Podcast) described Sin as the atmosphere of the Old Creation, but Christ has established the New Creation through his death and resurrection. The New Creation atmosphere is the reestablishment of the atmosphere in the Garden of Eden, the flourishing presence and vibrant life of God. This is the air God wants us to breath.
Let’s remember who God made us to be. Let’s live in our Original Innocence, not our secondary Sin.