Classical thought sees virtue and sin
as paired opposites. For example, contrast the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
with the deeds of the flesh (verses 19-21). I propose a slightly different
structure, in which there is a middle stage that is a one-way passageway
between the two. Virtues risk becoming vices and sins by first removing context
from the virtue. From the resulting free-floating attribute, it is but a short
trip to sin. A few examples:
God created food for humans to consume
and gave Adam and Eve minimal instructions. (Genesis 1:29-30; 2:9,16-17) Food
was fuel for their bodies, and undoubtedly healthy, as they were subject to
death only after eating the forbidden fruit (and we can infer food was healthy
from the known benefits of a vegetarian diet). He also gave them appetites so
that eating would be natural and they would remember to do so periodically, and
taste and smell so that eating would be enjoyable.
Subsequently, hunger was recognized as
a natural human appetite, without reference to it being a gift from God. It is
a legitimate human need, since life does not continue without it. But - watch
closely - once out of the context of a gift of God (how many people say grace
before meals these days?) we have only human expertise to determine what is
healthy. And if a person rejects the sage advice of nutritionists, and simply
indulges their appetite, we arrive at gluttony. Few dispute that gluttony is
self-destructive.
Lucifer was created as the light
bringer, the anointed Cherub who covers, with the seal of perfection, full of
wisdom, perfect in beauty. (Ezekiel 28:12-14)
His admirable qualities led to pride (Ezekiel 28:17). Dropping reference to God’s calling and gifting him for a purpose, and focusing on
his beauty and wisdom, he said in his heart, “I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods.” (Ezekiel 28:1)
Ultimately, he sought to exalt himself above God and rebelled, becoming Satan
the accuser, and the rest of the sad story followed. Satan lost the context
that God had created and endowed him with glorious qualities to perform a
specific role in God’s kingdom, apparently dissatisfied with the divine
accolade ‘well done, good and faithful servant.’ Losing the context of his
divinely ordained calling, his beauty and wisdom led him to pride.
What was the original sin? Adam and
Eve disobeyed a direct command. What were their excuses? “The serpent deceived
me....” “The woman You gave me gave it
to me....” (Genesis 3:12-13) God had
given them food from almost every fruit-bearing tree. (Genesis 1:29) Neither
seemed to be concerned about consulting The Lord, or recalling that they had
walked with Him in the cool of the morning, after Eve’s initial misquoting of
God’s direction (Genesis 2:17 vs. 3:3). Perhaps this is the core risk of
context dropping that we all face; that in the midst of the press of life in
the world, the alluring lies the tempter tells, we forget that we walk with Him
and allow ourselves to be talked out of His honoring His words. To close the
passageway from virtue to sin, we need to attend to His still, small voice.
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