Sin is part and parcel to our humanity, but the question of the imputation of guilt to all humanity as a result of an original human disobedience is theologically untenable. There is certainly nothing in Genesis 1-2 to suggest this idea. Original sin resulted in spiritual death (separation from communion with God) and in the intensification of suffering, not in physical death, natural disasters, and disease. Brown notes that, "Science critiques all interpretations to broaden the purview of the 'Fall' beyond the human family. Savage competition, untold suffering, ravaging disease and extinction—the 'war of nature' to quote Darwin—were all endemic to the natural order long before hominids ever arrived" (Brown, 106).
3) Creation is fallen, but will be perfected.
The biblical narrative is bookended by the tree of life; its subtle (and often overlooked) presence in the center of the Garden of Eden and its more prominent place in the eschatological vision of the book of Revelation suggests that as creation continues on, in all its fertility, mystery, wonder, and tragedy, so does God's redemptive plan for history and for creation.
God has invited into that project people who, following in the way of Jesus Christ and in the power of the Spirit, embody and reflect God's image in the world. They seek to witness to and extend the gift of God's grace throughout creation as God initiates its consummation, synthesizing earthly reality with the Kingdom of God. The New Jerusalem will descend to heal and restore the order of things.
As Bonaventure once noted, the Bible's creation narrative doesn't so much provide a scientific explanation of the origin of the world as set the stage for the narrative of God's work of reparation. In this sense, Christianity's original creation stories are natural precursors to the hope of Easter. The Son of God entered creational history, in the midst of its fallenness and brokenness, and healed it from the inside out. He conquered sin, death, and despair, and triumphing over the grave invites all of creation to enter into newness of life.
Original creation was very good. New creation will be infinitely better.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In