If there is one central theme in the teachings of Jesus, it is the theme of love. When asked what was the most important commandment, he answered, “ Love the Lord thy God … and your neighbor as yourself.” Mark 12:30,31. His short ministry clearly exemplified these words. Whether healing those in need or defending himself from the Temple hierarchy who viewed him as a threat, he never wavered from his core teaching — to love.
In 1st John, the author makes clear that love is all there is. “God is love” and we cannot love God unless we love our neighbor.
The poet Henry Shukman takes this theme and contrasts it with “original sin” in his book Original Love. The doctrine of original sin has its roots in the story of Adam and Eve, but was developed about 400 years after Jesus. In short, it takes the position that mankind is fallen and born into a state of sinfulness. This doctrine has been hotly debated and it is not my purpose to debate it here. In my study of Jesus’ teachings, however, I do not find that he ever talked about it. I also do not find that he ever condemned anyone, not even those who condemned him to death. He accepted people as they were and helped them to see their true nature as children of God.
In the first creation story in Genesis, God saw everything that he had made, including men and women, and pronounced it all as “very good.” Genesis 1:31. The story of Adam and Eve actually comes after this account in the second chapter of Genesis and is a separate creation story altogether. And yet, one doesn’t hear about the first creation story as much as the story of Adam and Eve.
Jesus did, to be sure, acknowledge sin. Often, after healing a person, he would tell them to go and sin no more. So, living an upright life and following the commandments was important to him. But I don’t believe that he went about his healing work starting from a position that people were hopelessly fallen from grace.
The word “sin” itself has an interesting origin. It is an archery term and means to miss the mark. I like this idea. As human beings, we often miss the mark in our dealings with others and ourselves. But do we learn from those misses and continually try to improve ourselves? I believe that Jesus viewed people at various stages of ripeness. In fact, the word translated as “evil” in the Lord’s Prayer is from the Aramaic word “bisha” which means unripe. In other words, all of us are at different stages of ripeness, but we’re hopefully trying to become more ripe each day in our spiritual growth. Looked at this way, it’s hard to condemn anyone for their behavior. Just as we wouldn’t condemn a child for making a foolish mistake, we shouldn’t condemn others for sinful behavior either. Each of us can improve each day as to who we are and how we respond to the challenges that beset us. Knowing that we operate from God’s unconditional love and not as fallen human beings helps us in that struggle.
The next time that you are tempted to see others or yourself as hopelessly condemned or fallen, ponder this idea of “original love.” It is the source of our being and is the place where we can feel the promise of God’s love.
— Reflections appears regularly on the religion page. The column features a variety of local writers, coordinated through the Monroe Area Clergy Group. Charles Wellington is a lifelong student of the teachings of Christ Jesus and regularly meditates with the Great Plains Zen Center in Monroe.
