Romans pt 31 - Original Sin? (5:12)
Original Sin?
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way, death came to all people, because all sinned. (Romans 5:12)
When I was very little, I remember asking why people die, and I remember an adult at my church explaining what he called the doctrine of original sin. It is an idea pioneered by a 4th century theologian named Augustine that says that the moment you were born, you were already sinful. A baby sinner, guilty of sinning, and destined to be thrown into eternal conscious torment.
I was already sinful when I was born? How is that possible?
Well, the doctrine of Original Sin states that human beings contract our sinful state from the Fall of Adam and Eve. Augustine argued that sin was passed through the blood line of the father to his offspring. We die because Adam sinned. He anchored this argument in two passages of scripture, Romans 5:12, and Psalm 51:5, which states:
5 Surely, I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
It might help if you pictur sin like a Russian Nesting doll. Descendants of Adam receive original sin because they were in Adam when Adam sinned. This idea doesn’t just say something about us, it also says something very specific about Jesus because there are questions that arise out of ideas like this. The first and obvious question to pop in my head is wasn’t Jesus was born? Didn’t he receive a sinful nature as well? Doesn’t that make Jesus totally depraved?
No, the apologist answers. You see, Jesus was divinely conceived through Mary. There was no male present to pass sin along. Duh!
Three pastoral thoughts on “original sin”:
1) These are not the issues the world needs us focusing on.
These are bourgeoise ideas that do not help free the enslaved, love the unloved, or even-out the unevenness of society.
2) These types of theologies are fun to theorize about, but they have nothing to do with you becoming Christlike, they assist that process in not one way.
They are power moves; they are ways that high-minded people created feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem and dependency on the highly educated.
“When Christianity is working, what we care about is the neighbor. When Christianity is not working, what we care about is Christianity.” ~ John Thatamanil (Happy Givers)
3) If doctrine beliefs, or ideas become divisive, they should be recognized as unchristlike, deconstructed and dismantled.
Paul did not
Through One Man?
Let’s pay special attention to what the text actually says, not what we hear based upon our upbringing. Does it really say that men pass on sins to all humans through sex? Not at all. Paul never says: one man sinned, and that mans sin became your sin.
Instead, Paul states two separate things in Romans 5:12:
1) Through one man, death entered the world through his sin.
2) Sin and death come to all people in this way… because all have sinned.
In Pauls view, Adam’s sin was the first sin, and hence, sin first entered through him. But that doesn’t mean it passed to you. The text states that in this same way, death came to all … because ALL have sinned.
God is not holding you responsible for the sins of others, not even Adam. In fact, the text says the exact opposite. It says that you are responsible for your own sin. Paul, in Romans 5, takes the position that all people die because all people sin. You might put it like this: “Adam was from the dust; he was human, so he sinned. Are you human; from the dust? Then you have sinned as well!”.
Jesus reveal to humanity that God has nothing but love and affection for you. God is not angry with you. Instead, he mourns with you when things are hard, and is present in time of need. You are not totally depraved, you are totally adored, and you should not let religious people tell you otherwise.
Discussion Questions:
How does the explanation of "Original Sin" align with or differ from your understanding of this theological idea?
Does the idea that "Original Sin" is not a central focus for addressing societal issues resonate with you? Do you believe theological discussions like this can have an impact on social and moral issues? Why or why not?
In relation to theological concepts creating feelings of inadequacy and dependency on the highly educated, how do you think these concepts can affect individuals' self-esteem and sense of worthiness?
Do you agree with the interpretation that God is not holding individuals responsible for the sins of others, including Adam, as described in Romans 5:12? Why or why not?
How might the perspective that humans are "totally adored" by God influence one's faith and relationship with God?