Original Sin continues

Teachings about original sin have created much un-needed confusion among Jesus’ follower down through the ages.  

Cynthia Bourgeault puts it this way:

“But what about: Jesus died for your sins?  Well, that foundational Christian statement is in fact completely and wholly true.  But not Individually,… but the human condition “collectively.” (p.107) 

I’ll paraphrase Bourgeault’s words here:  Jesus died for the part of the human nature — condition — that seems to, or tempted to, pull opposite of God’s plan for who and what we are intended to be. 

Here is where I believe the confusion comes into this historical misunderstanding; it is how we have been conditioned to think.

This is a huge fence to jump over for we intellectually formed beings.  Sometimes it is even impossible.  

Think about how difficult it is to accept a new idea — a completely new paradigm.  Especially in something as closes to us as our faith.  

We hold tight to what we have been taught about God/Jesus.

But let me assure you this one jump is worth life itself.

Because, when we are free to remove this complicated theological assumption, that we are ‘bad’ or not ‘perfect’ before God, it feels much less intimating.  Less guilt fill.

It feels like true freedom is meant to feel.

During a particularly stressful time in my ministry God gave me a great blessing.  He was a young pastor, right out of seminary, with a brilliant mind and ability to express himself.  

I’d have to say that his arrival in my life was a fresh light; and the beginning of a more refreshing adventure in ministry.

He gave a sermon one morning that brought all the trivial  parts of theology to one simple point:  “The Main Thing, is The Main Thing.”

I don’t remember what Gospel he was preaching from, nor exactly what he said.   But the point was made clear.  Love — Jesus — were the only essential thing we need to focus on.

If you and I could just empty our mind of all the stuff — loud noises  that blocks out what is important — our lives could be extraordinarily unlike we have ever known.