A basic tenet of Biblical Christianity is that man is born inherently sinful.
This is not exactly something we like to admit to. I know that I'm not perfect and I don't know anyone who is. I know some good people maybe, or people who are good for the most part -- but perfect? I don't think so. It's funny how most of us would agree that we are not perfect, but how many of us want to hear that we are sinful? We try to change the definition of what is evil, so we say we are pretty good or as good as the next person. None of us wants to think that we have the potential for evil in us.
Yet that one fact shifts our perspective on the world, history and politics. Some would say that that is a very negative or pessimistic view of life. For a Christian it is a realistic view of life. According to the Bible it explains a lot of things that have happened and are happening in this world of ours. From that realistic viewpoint, greed, lust, anger, envy, hatred, jealousy, lack of self control, all these are more understandable -- though not acceptable. Why does sin always seem to win?
In fact, from this viewpoint I am less pessimistic because I know that the evil things that happen are the way of this world. I am all the more optimistic because I know that one day all that evil will be done away with and the goodness and perfection that we so yearn for will be ours -- not pie in the sky when we die,-- but in the New Heaven and New Earth...just as we sing in "Messiah":
" Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill shall be made low;
The crooked places shall be made straight, and the rough places smooth;
The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together;
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken." Isaiah 40:4
7 comments:
I love that quote from Isaiah - part of Handel's Messiah too of course.
You ask about cheese toasties. They are very popular in cafes over here. You get two slices of bread - brown or white, fairy thin - and you put your choice of filling between (add butter or not as you wish) - we like grated chees asd grated apple, or you can have bacon and cheese, or chees and onion, ham and cheese etc.etc. Press the sandwich down well and then toast under the grill until crisp each side by which time the cheese will have melted. (Try bacon and brie cheese) - if using slices of bacon it is as well to grill them a little bit first so that they become crisp. Enjoy.
That sounds like what we call a grilled cheese sandwich -- but usually ours are made with processed cheese slices -- not very appetizing. England also has a really good selection of cheeses which we can't get over very easily over here. The grated cheese and apple sounds delicious!
Sounds like grilled cheese we sometimes have for lunch.
Chris; I like the way you have explained the concept of sin in this post. More and more as I think about evil in this world and even as it touches my own family, I find myself realizing that this is the result of on-going sin--a situation that will prevail until we can dwell in the New Earth.
Pondering this can get confusing even for Christians.
The word 'conundrum' is one that my Grampa Mac used. He was not a well educated person in terms of schooling. His father was of English parentage and I now wonder if some of grampa's expressions which I found unusual were the result of his father's background.
I wish I had asked.
Somehow I missed this post Chris. As always, your words and logic are spot on.
I admire your optimism and I believe that the winds of change to a more positive world are already starting with gentle breezes. I love the arguements about the difference between not being perfect and being sinful which is defined. I'm not sure I ever understood that man was born inherently sinful - I need to do some research on that one. I do however believe that in some cases, thankfully rare, that a small percentage of children are born to be sinful because of the influence of their evil parents.
Deep, deep and thought provoking arguements. Hope all is well in sunny soyuthern California?
XX
Some food for thought Chris. Thanks so much for the explanation.
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