(Writer’s note: I hesitate writing my blatant opinions about certain topics concerning God because it puts me in the category of “I’m right, you’re wrong” type of thinking - which I normally don’t like. However, there is a level of frustration with certain types of theology that I come across from day to day. Some “theology” gives God a bad name. This is an opinion piece that is critical of a somewhat mainline theology of which I’m probably in the minority. With that being said, this is just a blog - feel free to disagree with me.)
And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” (Gen. 2:16-17)
There’s a scary theology that’s often preached from the pulpit at a lot of churches that I’ve come across. And it has everything to do with humanity’s view of good and evil. It also has a lot to do with value. I know that just writing these thoughts down will get me in trouble with some - but I guess I don’t really care.
I recently had a lively conversation with someone that doesn’t believe that humanity has value. Her view of people was that they were just bad - evil to the core. When I tried to explain to her that God showed our value by paying the price on the cross - she looked at me as if I were an alien. She didn’t believe that God died to show our value, but to simply save us from ourselves.
While there’s truth in both propositions (He came to save us and give us value) it got me thinking about how our theology (whether we know it or not) shapes how we see each other and how we see God. To make a blank statement that humanity is evil (or good) would miss the point of the garden story. We just can’t make that judgment. According to the scriptures - we can only know that God is good. In our limited judgment, all we can look at is what God says about humanity.
In the first chapter of the Bible - after creating all things, including people - God looked at His creation and said that it was very good. Those aren’t my words - read the story. The first judgment by God is that creation (humanity included) is good. And He created people in His very own image!
Now, it’s important to note that God isn’t a liar. What He says is truth. He is God - He dictates whatever He wants. He said it - “good.” Most people seem to ignore that part of the story.
That’s because then there’s the rebellion in the garden. Humanity ignored God and went their own way. The actions of people were bad - sin entered the picture - and that ultimately led humanity to death. But that doesn’t reduce the value that each of us have. In fact - God’s atonement (the death of an animal) was a foreshadow of the ultimate atonement (the cross) that was later to come. God didn’t destroy Adam and Eve - he saved them - because, for whatever reason, He saw value in them. He showed that humanity was valuable - and that He loves us. And He’s been showing it throughout history ever since.
If our theology tells us that humanity is bad/evil - then that’s how we’ll initially see people. It’s hard to value someone when we think of them as evil or bad. In fact, we’ll begin to think that they should get what they deserve - the whole “go to hell” type mentality - especially when people are really “bad.” These judgments usually aren’t blatant - but they creep into people’s way of thinking and shape how they see the world.
Judgment rears it’s ugly head - and with it comes a sense of superiority. But this type of judgment is the fruit from a tree that humanity shouldn’t have eaten from in the first place. We should all just let God be God. We should listen to and trust His judgement.
Jesus said,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Mat 7:1-2)
That almost sounds like scary news until you flop Jesus’ saying back to who He is. God is love and His judgment is grace. What if grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love were the measure that we used when seeing people - all people? If we judge with grace - won’t we be given grace - by that standard?
Again - look at what Jesus says:
“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Mat 6:14-15)
If our measure is forgiveness - then we are forgiven. Period. This is actually a very profound thought - because we often judge others with condemnation, not forgiveness.
I definitely have more to say, but I'll save it for later...
May we learn to forgive one another, and may God’s good news actually be good news lived out in our lives!
Have a great day!
Jer
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