Original Sin

The Oxford Dictionary defines the word “original” as: “the origin or source of something; from which something springs, proceeds, or is derived; primary”.

The Merriam Dictionary defines the word “original” as: “relating to, or being, the origin or beginning: first, earliest” and “not copied or imitated from something else”.

When I attended a traditional combined denominational theological seminary almost all my exam grades were distinctions or high distinctions. Except for one theology exam. The question for our paper was “What is original sin?”.

My old, (and he was old), theological professor failed me in that exam paper. You see he was a traditional church liberal theologian, and he had no room for charismatic/Pentecostal thinking.

I wrote the basis of my paper on the fact that, just like the dictionaries state, “original” meant first – the very first.

So technically “original sin” was the very first sin. And the very first sin was pride and rebellion. Pride and rebellion against God.

“Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.” (Revelation 12: 7-9 NLT)

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.” (Isaiah 14:12-14 NKJV)

In the account of creation in Genesis the serpent tempted Eve.

However, there could be no temptation to sin if the serpent (the ancient serpent called the devil, or satan) had not sinned first through his pride and rebellion.

Therefore, as I wrote in my paper, original sin was satan’s pride and rebellion against God’s rule and authority.

And pride and rebellion against God (and God’s law) is what is at the root of most, if not indeed all, sins today.

As far as my theology paper went, I made an appointment with my professor and argued my case, so he begrudgingly gave me a “pass”.

I argued the definition of “original” and I stated if he wanted humanity’s original sin then he should have asked for that in his exam question.

I also argued that even though he was a traditional church liberal theologian there was no place in a theological seminary for the discounting of other theologies as proven by, and with, the Bible – and that included theologies that incorporate a Biblical belief in satan and evil from a charismatic/Pentecostal belief.

The point of all of this is that we must guard our hearts and minds against pride and rebellion against God’s rule and authority over us and His creation.

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