Let's Cut Adam and Eve Some Slack

Man. Woman. Garden. Tree. Apple. Serpent. Major Screw-Up. Busted. Blame game. Nakedness. Pain. Hard-labor. Exile. Tarnished reputation for eternity…

Did I leave out anything from what is probably the most famous story in human history? The saga gets even more convoluted when we view it through the lens of an actual Adam and Eve, and a story that ends with flaming swords. Then it all gets capped-off with the idea that their faux pas affected (and affects) the entire human race, which includes you and me. Yes, we are judged and held accountable for their transgression even though it happened over six-thousand-ish years ago. (if you try and follow a biblical lineage timeline).

Man, that sure seems unfair. Although I’m created in the image and likeness of God, (so says the bible), because this couple got narcissistic I’m born disconnected from God. Not only that, but unless I do certain things I’m stuck in this predicament for eternity.

Pretty heavy stuff.

And I didn’t even get a vote.

This whole concept of what is termed “Original Sin” has never set well with me. I know, it’s not about me always agreeing with the truth it’s about me complying with it whether I like it or not. The bible says it so that settles it. Problem is I just can’t seem to find where the bible says that. Or anything remotely like that.

Really, I’m not trying to be difficult, I just see God as “Father”, which is the way Jesus taught us the relationship worked. So, if I’m God’s child, and if He loves me beyond my wildest imagination, which is how I view His love given that that’s how I love my kids, then how do we connect the dots this way? I would never judge or condemn one of my kids because of what I or my dad did, and neither would the civil authorities, by the way.

This isn’t to say that my kids aren’t influenced by or don’t inherit propensities from their ancestors. Certainly we do. That’s why we are in the predicament we are in — generations of it being all about me that just compounds exponentially as the years go by.

Without a doubt we’re a mess. A beautiful mess, but a mess, nevertheless.

Our Christian theology adopted this disjointed relational perspective, and the culprit was Augustine of Hippo (354–430 A.D). Long venerated as one of the premier Church Fathers of the Western Catholic Church, he was eventually canonized as a saint. He was the first to add the doctrine of inherited guilt to what was a growing theology that elevated the church at the expense of following Jesus. Despite Augustine having his own hang ups with human sexuality, his brilliantly orchestrated attack on Pelagianism won the day and part of the pork added was this original sin concept.

Pretty convenient.

Come up with a doctrine that puts the illiterate masses beholding to the church else face eternal damnation. Imagine what that did for the church’s power and coffers. Same old story, I’m afraid. Fast forward several hundred years and this whole concept got turbocharged by John Calvin with his “total depravity of man” theology. Look up the meaning of the acronym “TULIP” sometime and sit down to read it. But be sure to have a stiff drink in your hand…

So, while the west marched off on this original sin path, the Eastern Orthodox church wasn’t quite so willing to follow suit. Now, saying “Eastern Orthodox” is like saying “Christian”, so know that I’m not bundling all Orthodox believers in the same theology. GENERALLY SPEAKING, the Orthodox tradition is much more focused on man’s uncovering his divinity through the concept of theosis than finding the need to demean our humanity by labeling us “sinners”.

Pretty radical. Pretty profound. Pretty cool.

For me it was vindication that there were others who didn’t drink the cool aid, and by others I mean there were a significant number of Christians who weren’t labeled a cult, or crazy, or progressive or whatever other label “those” people want to give to those who’s theological box is shaped differently than theirs. Wow, confirmation that my heart could be trusted and that I no longer need fear encouraging the mystic in me.

Now for the fun part.

Adam and Eve were created in the image and likeness of God. Just like you, and me, and every person that has ever lived or ever will live. Image AND likeness. Two very distinct components of our being. They are not one in the same, and that might come as a surprise to some of you. It sure did to me.

You know, God just seems to get smarter and smarter. First, He creates humans with a core, undeniable, unchangeable, non-negotiable identity that echos of their creator, and one that they can’t possibly screw up. Couple that with endowing them with a free will where they get to choose the degree to which they want to develop their [Christ] likeness, and you have a fantastic, eternal combination that God called, “very good”. It’s accepting a lifetime of seeking the Kingdom as you more deeply experience how everything else will be given as well.

This is why we should give Adam and Eve a break.

They were trying to figure out the “likeness” thing just like we are. We have no idea how long it was for them between being created and being tempted. Yep, they blew it. Maybe they didn’t have much time to deepen their spirituality and trust God enough to take him at His word. Maybe they resisted and thus stunted their own growth. They certainly didn’t transform in lockstep with each other, because they were HUMAN. Just like me, and just like you.

Human.

God’s greatest creation, and yet always a work in progress. In the process of developing our likeness to greater and greater oneness with The Father with Christ at the helm. This is what the Eastern concept of theosis is all about. You don’t need to be an Orthodox Christian to embrace the concept, by the way. Paul is all about this transforming journey.

Maybe you’ve been taught to call it, “working out your salvation.” Whatever, it’s a journey, and we all need to work at it.

Or not. It’s up to you.

Because ultimately, it’s about the evidence of it in your life. What fruit do you have on your tree? And this isn’t about judgement or finger-pointing…it’s about honesty and vulnerability.

Honesty and vulnerability before your God and no one else.

Yes, we sin, but we aren’t sinners. We’re beautiful, created in the image of, and with the ability to grow in the likeness of, God. Try that on for size and see how it fits. Oh, and might I suggest that you take Adam and Eve’s picture down off the dartboard…