Recapitulating the Original Sin
In the Genesis narrative the original sin happened when Adam and Eve believed, each in their own way, that they had to look after themselves because God was holding out on them. We recapitulate this sin when, in various ways, we act out of the same belief.
Wrote the following comment on March 2nd, 2011 at 10:12 am #
Control!?
My kids act out, not so much thinking we’re holding out on them. They just want control of their universe. I know God sends me the occasionally painful reminder when I think I’m in control.
The scary concept of striking a rock, instead of speaking to it, cost Moses the Promised Land. Obedience vs Control?
Wrote the following comment on March 2nd, 2011 at 11:55 am #
Karl – It’s good to hear from you.
Regarding control, I think trust is implicit in control. When a person seeks control of a situation they are essentially only trusting themselves. Such a person is seeking their well being, and they don’t want to leave the outcome of securing such well being to someone else. This idea is related to the proverb “Lean not in your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge God and he will direct your paths.” God circumscribes and proscribes various courses of action, and in many instances we don’t get his logic about such matters. In this instance, regarding whether we obey, we are really only left with one question, “Do I trust God?” Unpacking this question, I could further ask, “Is he worthy of my trusting obedience even when I don’t understand?” And this is what I am getting at in this very brief reflection on the sin of Adam and our sin.
Regarding your kids and their desire for control, I wonder why it is that they want control. It seems to me likely that they want to make sure, by having the power in their own hands, that they are able to obtain those things that they think are going to make them happy or fulfill them.