“The Human Condition”

Genesis 3 establishes the essential distinction for an understanding of ‘the human condition,’ the breaking of prudent standards set by God. Instead, our desire for autonomy displaces any opportunity to rightly consider one’s own responsibility. Without the belief that inherent corruption resides in all individuals, people are now free not only to establish their own rules but, with accumulated resources of power, to create spheres of control that decimate the liberties of others. ‘Sin’ is now any external point of view at variance with the controllers. If indeed we can be our own gods, then we will desire sovereignty that extends beyond our own orbit, expanding our ‘values’ onto others since we know what is best. Truth, goodness, and beauty will now become our creations, giving way instead to pure reason, dictatorial rules, and acceptable experiences.

To reject the Genesis 3 account of human sin is to proclaim what we believe to be ‘sin’ then imposing our own mode of salvation on others, explaining how they must be ‘saved.’ Salvation is now directed by political, cultural actors whose pronouncements give no quarter to any other views than their own. Loosed from order which binds them to consider their own transgressions, they decide what is good and bad, right and wrong. Their origin of ‘the human condition’ begins and ends with their own godlike declaration of wrongdoing, promoted by their own version of “And God said.” A society rid of grounding in authority outside itself will find authority within itself. Woe to the nation whose leaders relieve people of their liberties, constrain their freedoms, subvert their traditions, determine individual choice, and demonize any viewpoint other than their own. The end of self-appointed authoritarians begins with a repudiation of the origin of sin in Genesis 3.

The two doctrinal pillars of any subject are authority and humanity. Here, the Christian thinker understands human corruption is at the heart of any discussion of evil in this present world. Contradicting Billy Joel, we did start the fire.

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