Comments for thinking it over coffee

Comment on Why are we held accountable for the sin nature we can’t help having? by Saint and Sinner

Saint and Sinner — Sat, 17 May 2008 02:49:30 +0000

I don’t know your level of theological training (not to say that you aren’t smart enough!), but I’ll give the somewhat technical answer.

You are assuming that responsibility necessitates the ability to do otherwise.

However in Scripture, the only conditions for responsibility are:

a.) the desire to do the action and
b.) that you actually did the action

[Of course, Christ makes it a sin (though a lesser sin!) even if only a. done (example: Matthew 5:27-28).]

The belief that responsibility is necessary only if one could have done otherwise comes from the Greek philosophers and their ethical theories, not the Bible. The influence of Greek philosophy on Western culture has been tremendous, and that is why most Westerners feel that Original Sin is ‘obviously’ unjust (though it isn’t at all ‘obvious’ to me).

Hope that helps.

Comment on Why are we held accountable for the sin nature we can’t help having? by Lisa R

Lisa R — Fri, 16 May 2008 19:58:08 +0000

I think Romans 5:12 gives us a pretty good picture.

Just as through one man sinned entered the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all have sinned. (NASB)

Comment on Why is man sinful? by lisa robinson

lisa robinson — Fri, 16 May 2008 02:49:30 +0000

Hi Sarah,

That’s interesting, we both put up posts at the same time about sin.

Comment on Just give me a couple of days to get rolling by Michael Patton

Michael Patton — Thu, 15 May 2008 21:58:00 +0000

Look forward to it!!