The Problem
The Bible isn't a history book, though it does tell us things about history. The Bible isn't a book on science, though it addresses scientific subjects. The Bible is a book about why we are the way we are and how to change that. Well - cough, sputter - "What's wrong with us?" you might ask. The Bible calls it the fall. Something happened that caused us to be, shall I say, broken. The fall resulted in a disconnect, a break in a healthy relationship between God and man.
Originally, our first parents experienced God in an intimate, loving relationship. That relationship inspired trust, which motivated a freely given cooperation. Adam and Eve were content in enjoying what God provided. Then the serpent deceived Eve into believing God was holding out; that He really didn't have their best interests at heart. Buying into that lie brought distrust, and with it the separation that distrust inspires.
Distrust led to eating the forbidden fruit, an act of disobedience. Guilt over this act furthered their separation from God. In order to deflect their guilt they sought to justify themselves. Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent.
In their guilt and fear Adam and Eve also started looking out for themselves. No longer trusting God, they defaulted to trusting in their own devices. That was simply the only other option. This egocentric focus spawned selfishness, pride, envy, and deceit.
This fallen state dramatically impacts our relationships. While desiring love we're infected with these destructive tendencies that sabotage our quest for intimacy. Look at our divorce rate. We talk about love when we're really seeking someone to fill our emptiness. We talk about giving until the novelty of romance wears off. Then it's more about, what's in it for me. Honesty is rare, healthy relationships - few. We end up trivializing the real substance of life, substituting it with our things, or simply using people. It's no wonder then, that many give up on intimacy.
Why am I talking about relationships? Because it is here, more than anywhere else, that we see the problem. The rest of our problems stem from this root: our selfishness and inability to connect with others through real love.
You'll probably say, "Okay, we simply need to relate better." However, I think it underscores what I said before - we're broken. I can hear you now: "Well, I suppose you're going to call us all sinners." No. Though true, focusing on sin distracts us from the real problem. Sin is a symptom, broken and separated from God is the disease.
Adam and Eve were created and then placed in an atmosphere of security and love. They fell from that safety through lack of trust in God. They were also separated from the sense of God's love. Without that love, we won't trust God. Without trust in God, we must take care of ourselves. Selfishness is the result. This is closely followed by self-justification, the wall we erect denying this problem.
Many, however, place the emphasis on our disobedience or rebellion against God. That distorts the nature of the problem. It is faith in a proper understanding of God's love and the goodness of His way that creates a desire to follow Him. Conversely, it is through misunderstanding the nature of God or failing to believe in His goodness that leads to rebellion. It will therefore be my purpose to remove the distortions that cause us to misunderstand God.
Yet we're so busy thinking about promotions, accounts, or keeping
our house in order that we have little time to address our spiritual needs.
How do you transition someone, with egocentric values and a preoccupation with
satisfying their needs, to real spirituality? God must first get our attention.
He must bring us out of our self-absorbed state. We must be made aware of our
need for a connection with His love and care. To do this God uses the law in
a rather counterintuitive manner. He presents us with the law as commands in
order to establish our moral responsibility. He then uses that base to patiently
move us from a thou shalts mentality to an entirely different focus.
Copyright 8/04, Patrick Fagenstrom - edited 4/10