My husband Dustin and I had a really good talk last night. One that really got me thinking. We started talking about religion and Christianity – the idea of “original sin,” what Jesus really meant by the words he said, the idea of still following Jesus but not being a part of the Christian church, and then some. He was asking a lot of questions that I couldn’t even answer. (Even though we were both raised in Christian homes, my upbringing involved a lot more biblical study than his.)
The idea that hit me the most and that I’m still pondering today is the discussion we had on original sin. It just doesn’t make sense to me.
According to Christian beliefs, we are all born inherently sinful, thus the need for a savior to cleanse us of those sins and make us worthy of heaven and all the glory God has to offer.
Yet, at the same time, we’re told we are made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). And Jesus tells us that we are gods (John 10:34) and that we can do all that he can do (John 14:12). So if we’re made in the image of God, yet we’re inherently sinful, does that mean God is inherently sinful?? And if Jesus himself is telling us that we ARE gods and that we can do all he can do, why aren’t we screaming our power from the rooftops instead of being oppressed and made to feel unworthy?
I had a small conversation with a friend of mine from college (who is now a minister) on the following meme I posted to Facebook:
He pointed out that, though a good idea, this doesn’t accurately represent the “primary teaching” of Christianity. He stated that “the primary teaching of Christianity is that we are in desperate need of God’s grace and new life because on our own we are spiritually bankrupt and unable to love others as ourselves.”
Spiritually bankrupt? Is that what God meant when he made us in his image? Is that what Jesus meant when he told us how awesome and beautiful and amazing we are? I feel so spiritually filled and vibrant, definitely not bankrupt. I feel so abundantly beautiful and spiritual. I feel love and light radiating out of my heart daily.
Unable to love others as ourselves? But that is what Jesus calls us to do. Why would he call us to love others as ourselves if he knew that we were inherently unable to do so?
When Dustin and I were talking last night and we discussed how we’re “born sinners,” he very blatantly called bullshit. “So Cohen’s a sinner?? Whatever…” he said. And I completely agree. These beautiful babies come into this world filled with so much love and joy that they can get even the grumpiest person to smile. But they’re filled with sin?? I see nothing but love and joy when I look at the face of my little baby.
Here’s my two cents: I believe that we are beautiful, powerful, worthy, spiritual beings. We are much more powerful than we realize, and we have everything going against us in our society. We have been oppressed for years, told we aren’t good enough, that we aren’t enough on our own, that we’re in need of saving. Those in power over the millennia have sought to instill this into our minds. The men in power who put the bible together (yes, the bible was made by men – men in power, men who wanted to keep that power to themselves and not let the people have any) knew what they were doing. (For more info about how the bible was put together and the politics behind it, read The Bible: A Biography. It is so, so enlightening.) I believe the whole stance of “we are sinners in need of saving” comes from the minds of those in power seeking to keep our power suppressed. They have no control over powerful people, which is why they don’t want us to realize our innate, God-given power and beauty, the power and beauty that Jesus himself says we have.
Dustin and I ended our conversation last night realizing that we are choosing to follow what’s in our hearts as opposed to following what’s in a book that is thousands of years old, that has been translated dozens of times and interpreted hundreds of ways.
In my opinion, sin = fear. (I’ll write a post on this someday…) I would agree that we are born inherently fearful. Fear permeates our minds in a myriad of ways, through all sorts of media and experiences. Fear is the basis for all that you would consider “sinful” acts. Once we’re able to release that fear, we can be the truly wonderful, beautiful, spiritual beings that we are.
I refuse to let anyone tell me that I am less than what I feel I am, and honestly, I think this idea of original sin and that we are unworthy on our own is detrimental to our society. We’re essentially telling people that they aren’t good enough, and that leads to so much sadness and depression, especially considering the suppressive times in which we’re living. My goal is to let every person I work with know how loved, worthy, and amazing they are – all on their own.
