Genesis 3-4: Damaged Goods

Posted by Chris on January 20, 2013 under Front Page Posts, Sermons

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When sin appears, the good creation of God is damaged.  But before we go any farther, let us set aside incorrect notions of sin that miss the point entirely . . .

Sin is Not . . .

1. Sex – God made male and female.  His commission was to be fruitful and multiply.  Historically, sex has been identified as “the original sin,” but this does not fit with biblical teaching.  Sex is part of God’s good creation, but like many other good things in creation sin sometimes corrupts, abuses, or distorts sex.  However, this is no reason to equate sex with sin.

2. Total Depravity –  The doctrine of Total Depravity is an example of a concept taken to an extreme.  The implications of this doctrine have gone beyond what anyone involved in its origin may have ever intended.  The sad result is that too many believers feel like the natural state of humanity is depravity, and the articulation of this tends to be rather hopeless and crushing.  In the Genesis story, humanity is not depraved.  Rather, the good humans are deceived.

3. Genetic Flaw –  Although rare, there are some who might contend that sin is a type of genetic flaw in our species.  This is more than likely a scientific retelling of the doctrine of original sin, which asserts that sin is passed on from our ancestors.  Nothing at all in the text or the story affirms that genetics has anything to do with sin.

4. A Foreign Substance in Creation –  There is no substance called “sin.”  It is not a new element within creation.  Rather, sin is a warping, distorting, or damage of the good creation.

“Leave God Out of This”

If we follow the conversation in Genesis 3, then we gain a better perspective on sin and just how damaging it is.  The serpent talks about God.  He does not talk to God or with God.  God is objectified.

Next, the boundaries that God established are restated as options.  Those boundaries are part of God’s creative genius.  When God separated things like night and day, land and sea, ocean and sky, he was creating and making the world good.  When those boundaries are crossed, damage occurs.  When eggs have been scrambled, they cannot be unscrambled.

Sin is, at a very basic level, a willfulness that causes damage to and within God’s creation.  Sin is our attempt to live in the world on our own terms rather than God’s terms.

“If you refuse to do what is right, then watch out!” – Gen. 4:7

“Sin Lies At The Door”

In Genesis 4, we are told yet more about the damaging nature of sin.  Sin’s destructive power goes beyond individual destruction, punishment, pain or judgment.  Sin attempts to dominate us.  God created humanity to have dominion over creation.  Sin is the counter to the good dominion.  Sin desires to consume us and ruin the godly dominion that shares in the creation project.

God recognizes the viral nature of sin and he warns Cain that sin is crouching at his door.  He warns Cain that if he will not exert some sort of rule over the sin, which may be nothing more than not “opening the door,” then the sin will consume him.

The sad outcome is that Cain does open the door to sin and the damage follows.  Because of Adam and Eve’s willfulness, there’s already a disruption in the relationship between God and humanity.  There is also a disruption in the relationship between male and female.  Shame enters into the equation.  The exile from the garden is the first sign of the disruption in humanity’s relationship with the rest of creation.

After Cain slays Abel, the earth is tainted by blood shed in anger.  Now the relationship between human beings is disrupted by violence and the need for justice.  Cain is concerned about retaliation.  All the world suffers due to violence and the threat of violence.

The Gospel of God’s Grace

God doesn’t back out or give up on humanity and creation.  He covers their shame (nakedness).  He covers over that which causes them to lie, to hide and feel shame.  God transforms the death-dealing situation with life-giving options.

The good news is that God believes in us.  He believes that we can overcome and do well.  If God did not believe in us, then why would he call us to do better and why would he call us to be holy?  That would be cruel if God were just saying these things when he knows it is impossible.  We certainly need God’s help, but God is still calling to us to join in the newness.

The good news is also the fact that sin cannot eliminate the goodness in creation.  It may cloud the goodness.  It may stain it or fracture it, but the goodness is still present.

We are damaged by sin, but not defined by sin.  We are called to overcome the sin.  God is empowering us to resume our rightful place in ruling over creation.  We are called to grow and mature.  We may become more like our king, Jesus Christ.