Taking responsibility...

As part of our stirring theological discussion this morning, my Friday covenant group (three pastors, a Bible scholar, and a lawyer) got talking about the concept of original sin. To quote an old joke (which seems appropriate for three pastors, a Bible scholar, and a lawyer), "We're agin' it." The concept of "original sin," as committed by Adam is one of those litmus tests of fundamentalism. For more progressive theologians, "original sin" is just a term for whatever first prompted human beings to put their own interests above those of the rest of creation. Progressive theologians view the Garden of Eden narratives as an inspired folk tale that stands in for a mythical part of the human experience that was probably less an "event" than part of our evolutionary process, most likely an offshoot of our primordial self-preservation instinct (humans did selfish things--many of which were detrimental to the others around them, or to their world--driven by the need to survive).

Some are still driven by this instinct today: people who make war to protect their village and preserve their way of life; persons who steal to buy food for themselves or their family, etc. However, most of us "sin" because we want to. It is an act of volition. We don't need an "inherited" incident of original sin to prompt us to do so.

Maybe I should take a stab at defining "sin." I think sin is any thought, attitude, or activity that harms, objectifies, or demeans another person, or that may bring harm to ourself. Sin is that which breaks relationships, or makes them impossible to have or sustain. Sin focuses on me and not thee, whether the thee is another person or God. I know some will say, "The Bible makes clear what sin is." Well, yes and no. The "lists" of sins in the Bible are examples of the behaviors I have described above. They are meant to teach us that these kinds of things will ruin our relationship with God and others. Christians are people living our lives in community. Sin ruins community, from the extremes of murder and adultery, to theft and sexual promiscuity that "uses" others for personal gratification, instead of as a bonding experience in a loving relationship. Some of the things the Bible lists as "sins" are probably not big issues for us today, but there are other things we do that make up our own sin list: harming the environment; racism and sexism; benefitting from, rather than exposing and opposing rampant economic disparity, to name a few, and these are not directly addressed in the biblical lists. If we define sin in this way, then my efforts to subdue or "win over" it are couched in making myself a better person and one who encourages and enhances the community life around me, which seems like a holistic and productive pursuit. In this model, God's forgiveness becomes not just divine appeasement, but something that motivates us like a coach egging on her team.

While "original sin" is an interesting thing to have theological conversation about, the reality is that the only cause of our own sin is us. Blaming our sin on some "sin nature" we inherited from Adam is akin to saying "the devil made me do it." We are the ones who choose to sin, and we are the ones who can choose not to sin. This is not to say that we can't ask for help from our supportive community--or from God. Jesus spent most of his time with "sinners" in his ministry, and a considerable amount of that time was in teaching how not to sin, and how to love others. In a couple of incidences with the Pharisees, he seemed to make light of his ability to forgive sins, and emphasized ethical, moral, and loving behavior as the genuine cure for what ails us.

So, as we get up to speed in the new year, let one of our most shining resolutions be to take responsibility for our own sins and shortcomings, whatever they may be, and with God's help, work on being freed from the "bondage" they inflict on our lives, and also, therefore, the harm they may be causing in the others around us. In the words of Mr. Wesley, let us "go on to perfection." Shalom, Yinz...