I’m back (at least for today).
I’ve been going to a Bible study with some people from my church when work doesn’t get in the way. It’s pretty good, despite there not being a real leader or discussion questions. We are also reading Romans, which is written by Paul. Apparently Mennonites aren’t fans of Paul. Who knew? Baptists are.
As I told Candace, I sort of go rogue at Bible study. Have fun following this thought process.
In Romans 5, there is the idea that because Adam sinned, we are all sinners. I think it kind of reads that because he sinned, we sin. That sort of removes some element of choice in our sins. I’m sure I totally buy “original sin,” but maybe I do.
During Bible Study I was leafing through a commentary and it said something along the lines that in Jewish culture, sin and forgiveness were collective. They rarely spoke about individual trespasses or grace. THEY were God’s chosen people, HE is not God’s chosen person. That’s terribly interesting.
It’s difficult to see sin and forgiveness this way for Christians. We rarely talk about the “sins of the Church.” Sure the Crusades happened, and most Christians still hate gay people, but I don’t, so I’m okay. I think Donald Miller was on to something when he asked non-Christians for forgiveness for the sins of the historical Church.
It sort of see it like White Guilt. As a white person, I have a number of privileges that I was not always aware of. The thing is, white people throughout history, have done terrible things to other people. We killed the Native Americans, enslaved Africans, and profile Latinos. As a white person, there is a sense of guilt that comes along with what my ancestors did.
Now, Adam was a human. He was the first human. He is all of our ancestor. If he sinned, we must deal with that. I must deal with that like I have to deal with the idea that my ancestors had slaves.
As a Christian, I have to deal with the trespasses of the church. As a white person, I have to deal with the issues of my forefathers. And as a human, I have to deal with the first sin of Adam.
you should come to seminary…you’d fit right in, haha…i need to call you. well, do you want to video chat instead sometime this weekend in the evening? that would probably be more fun….