The argument that people know Christianity is true but choose not to be Christian so they can keep sinning is not a good argument

This is a bit of doctrine that does not get challenged enough. I propose that there are different ways of encountering "sin" and I also suggest that we neither need to get rid of a birthright of sinful burden and the, even if we need to be scrubbed clean (spiritually speaking), it takes more than a simple act of contrition.

In the Old Testament, sin seems to be the "excuse" whereby the iniquities of the fathers results in punishment shared by the children. For example,

"I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing loving-kindness to thousands [of generations], to those who love Me and keep My commandments [Deuteronomy 5:9-10].

But later in the same book, it says almost the opposite:

"Fathers shall not be put to death for their sons, nor shall sons be put to death for their fathers; everyone shall be put to death for his own sin." [Deuteronomy 24:16]

To my understanding this whole notion about sin has to do with the Israelites being faithful to the original Covenant with Moses and God, but those many generations later are no longer under the same burden.

Even then. the Book of Isaiah looking back at these times offers a reasonable remedy:

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. [Isaiah 1:18]

Note that the "Us:" in this passage is calling to the INDIVIDUAL, not the people of Israel collectively, to converse and reflect with the Creator, not with other persons, or priests, or religious and cultural traditions.

Either way, this sin/punishment arrangement is certainly nothing the Gentile world should have to assume as a burden.

On the other hand, consider that the concept of Original Sin, created after the death of Christ, is traced back to events in the Garden of Eden.

Rather than assuming that some "mega-sin" is passed down to all mankind, consider rather that this is the natural (God-intended?) outcome of the conflict between the "divine" side of man (Adam made in likeness of God's characteristics and attributes -not that God has two arms, two legs, etc) and the human side of man (Eve, the inquirer, risk-taking, survivor, character-building, etc).

In this context, the Fall was not a "mistake" or tragedy for which Christ had to atone on our behalf - it's just the way we bring out the latent virtues in ourselves, such as love, patience, forbearance, unity, encourance, justice, compassion, fairness, etc.

This reality is nicely summarized by St Paul:

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God [Romans 3:23]

A rational person might say "OK. So what is the answer if this just happens as part of human nature, no matter how often we ask forgiveness.?"

Rather than just declare "The sacrifice of Jesus takes care of all that", rather provide a reasonable reason why an innocent child should be baptized for sins which clearly are neither its birth legacy or the results of "reasoning" and choices.

As God says, "Let us reason together". Period.

/r/DebateReligion Thread Parent