What’s the Problem?
We can point to many sorts of troubles that afflict our human condition, but the Bible in its opening pages addresses the fundamental question: What is the problem? What is the root cause of the anxiety and insecurity, the enmity and the fighting, the basic spiritual malaise that characterizes so much of human life? The central problem is diagnosed in the story of Adam and Eve.
What appears on the surface to be a simple story is in fact a profound analysis of our human condition and our human problem. Key points of the story are the following:
- We are created by God and blessed with many good things
- We are called to be faithful and obedient to God and to live in fellowship with God
- We are tempted instead to turn away and try to “be like God” (Genesis 3:5) – to call the shots and go our own way, no matter what God says
- We thus create a breach between ourselves and God
- In alienation from God, we end up in weakness and fear
- We blame one another, and descend into fighting (note how the Adam and Eve story is followed by the story of Cain and Abel)
- We engage in all kinds of foolishness
- We hide ourselves from God
- Looking for strength, we put our trust in all sorts of “false gods” – money, power, status, or political systems – as will be illustrated in subsequent Biblical stories; but none of it can save us.
The Bible will use the term sin to denote this process by which human beings separate themselves from God.
We cannot save ourselves; but God acts on our behalf. God ultimately answers the problem of sin by coming to us in Jesus Christ. Christ offers himself on the cross, so that we can be forgiven and brought back to God; and as we are restored into fellowship with God, we can receive spiritual healing – in our individual lives and our social relationships.
When we recognize that the problem is sin, then we can perceive that the answer is Jesus Christ. Share on XThe first step toward answering our ailments is to correctly diagnose the underlying problem. Much misery in the human story has resulted from the fact that the human problem is either not diagnosed or wrongly diagnosed, leading to even more troubles. The problem is rightly diagnosed in the Scriptures. When we recognize that the problem is sin, then we can perceive that the answer is Jesus Christ; and as we open ourselves in faith to Christ, we can receive the spiritual transformation that Christ would bring about in us.
Sunday’s Scripture Readings:
Genesis 3:1–13
Romans 5:6–10
Can you think of any other scriptures or further reading that addresses the issue of the temptation to “be like God”? I often feel like I know what direction to take, but realize too late that I was following what I thought I knew to be right and not waiting on guidance from God.
The temptation to “be like God,” which is at the heart of the story of Adam and Eve, is addressed in later Scriptures under the rubric of “pride.” “Pride” in the Bible is not “feeling good about yourself” (we should feel good about ourselves, when we know we are children of God!); “pride” in the Scriptures is the human tendency toward self-exaltation. This blocks our relationship with God; or as it is said in more than one place in the Bible, “God opposes the proud.” (Proverbs 3:34, James 4:6, I Peter 5:5)
The rest of that verse is, “but God gives grace to the humble.” Humility is a spiritual stance of receptivity to God – a recognition that we need God. It includes waiting on God. Part of our common human struggle is exactly what you note – we tend to rush off on our own plan, instead of looking patiently to God.
Google “Scriptures on pride” and “Scriptures on humility” and you will find a good number of inspirational verses on these themes. As Peter went on to say, “Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, so that in due time God may exalt you.” (I Peter 5:5) Thanks for your question!
Thank you! That gives me a lot to explore!