Terminal Velocities

My mother told me a few years ago that they forgot to inform me at a young age that sin can be fun. Man was she right, sin can be a whole lot of fun, even though the repercussions may not be noticeable, isn’t there something attractive in being bad? I watched a sermon once on DVD (I find church hard to attend, especially big ones, something about thousands of Christians in one room bothers me, hopefully it won’t in heaven otherwise I’ll be in trouble) where the preacher did a wonderful job of explaining human nature. He said that most people like to believe that we are all generally good people who occasionally do something bad, but the reality is that we are all generally bad people who occasionally do something good. What a profound statement, for proof he states that if we were the former we would only need laws in society, but since we are the latter we need law enforcement, and even internal affairs to enforce the law upon them.

So what is it that makes us all a generally bad species, it may be a pessimistic outlook to have but it is the truth, and if anybody disagrees with that I would be more than happy to punch you in the face. I read an article about a decade ago that claimed the first, and last so far, entire year of recorded history where there was not a war taking place somewhere on earth. Why is it that we are attracted to doing things that are considered evil? The Bible has a wonderful explanation, but lets just continue for a bit as if you don’t believe in that old book. Why is mankind so bent on pain and suffering? Take a look at what all we have, disease, violence, theft, corruption, oppression, and on and on. Without the Grace and Mercy of God we have a very desolate outlook on our planet. Granted those things have yet to come to pass for all of us, but is it not interesting how many people who suffer the most have a tendency to find peace in God? I have done many terrible and shameful things in my life, I would put it up to anyone to find someone who has not, many of the things I have done I enjoyed doing at the time, some of them I would do again given the circumstance of the action. However I am sorry that I have done them, why is it that I am tempted at times to do them again? Violence is something that is interesting, so many people revel in violence but know that it has atrocious outcomes. Same with sex and lust, how many deaths, beatings, disease, wars and pain has come out of sexual miscreants? All of these things, in my opinion, would not exist if it had not been for a simple mistake made thousands of years ago.

Lets assume that you don’t have such a negative outlook on humanity, and in your drum circles and tree hugging you think that we can change as a species, or even better, that we already have. Look at the good people that attempted to make a change in our societies, how about the recent ones? Like Gandhi or Martin Luther King Jr. No doubt these were great, good hearted people (that I am sure had done a few bad things in their lives). How did humanity treat them? How were their lives or achievements embraced by humankind as a whole? Maybe that is a little under your head, so lets look at something more practical. How many times have you shown up somewhere late cursing the jerk that cut you off on your way there? Now how often do you tell people about the nice lady who let you change lanes when you had had your blinker on for the past several miles? All good is rivaled by evil, and since evil is an easy trait in our species it is no wonder why so many peaceful demonstrations end with pain and suffering and tear gas and fire hoses. Does this mean we give up hope? Yes, it means we give our hope to something, not someone, greater, that has a plan, that will bring an end to the current nature of humanity.

I am a firm believer that if Adam and Eve hadn’t eaten the fruit on their own free will God would have eventually fed it to them. Now I don’t even want to begin a dialog on pre-destiny, controlled fate and free will, you’ll have to sit down with me over a coffee and a waffle for that discussion. Let’s just say that God has a plan, and another plan and another plan, he gives us the choices fully knowing the different outcomes for any action we may choose. So all this being said, what would life had been like had Adam and Eve not been so hungry? We don’t know, and have no way of knowing, but do know that it would have been a better alternative to what we see today. I will leave you with a few paragraphs from my book that shows a great metaphor of what parents deal with as their children grow older, further reinforcing the idea that we were not meant to be this way, but are. Until the day when sin is no more we must all learn to deal with our nature and the nature of us all.

The argument presented by the serpent is one that is extremely simple, like getting a sibling to break the rules. First the beast initiates the deception with a simple question “Did your mom actually say that you cannot touch anything in the kitchen?” Which is a great way to manipulate your subject, let them bring up the point of deception by correcting you making them feel like they are in control and know more than you. The child responds honestly saying, “No, my mom said not to touch the stove because it would burn me.” The beast replies saying, “The stove won’t burn you, your mom uses it all the time, but if you used it you could cook whatever you wanted to instead of those vegetables she always makes you eat.” So the child reaches out and touches the stove, burning their hand while their older brother is watching. The Bible specifically states that Adam was with Eve when she ate the fruit, so why would the serpent choose to deceive the woman when the man is right beside her? There are probably many reasons why Eve was chosen but the two main reasons I think of are ignorance and a shared emotion. Eve was more ignorant than Adam simply because God spoke his command directly to Adam who then later conveyed it to Eve. The shared emotion could be one of slight envy that Adam had been around a little bit longer than Eve. Regardless they were both responsible and both suffered for their choices.

For anyone who has overdosed, over drank or simply had more than they could handle of any mind-altering substance, they can relate to what happened next. In an instant everything was revealed to Adam and Eve, in an instant they learned how to add and do calculus. The result was an inner shame that left them dumbfounded as the heavens watched them sober up and stagger throughout the garden. God could have stomped through Eden screaming that they come suffer the punishment but instead He walks lightly through the garden calling for them as a father would his hiding child. When the children come to their father He gives them a chance to confess. This is where I see the infinite possibilities surrounding God’s wisdom, He not only knew the outcome of the earth had they not disobeyed them and the consequence for breaking the rules, but had another plan for them had they confessed. He gives Adam two chances to take responsibility for what he has done, but being the manly man that he is he blames it on the girl. Then God turns to the girl and asks what she has done and she, being the girly girl that she is, blames it on the snake.

So what do you think? Are we not an inherently bad natured species, and if not what are your arguments otherwise? What can we do to change? Can we change? I would love to hear all of your disagreements and views, just remember that I would love to punch someone in the face too ;)