The “Why” of Sin
"Therefore, just as sin entered the
world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all
men, because all sinned" (Romans 5:12, Holy Bible, New International
Version).
Okay, we've looked at what sin is, and who,
in fact, sins, the next thing to consider is how does sin come about? Is it a learned trait, or is it a flaw in
human nature; is it "nature" or "nurture?" This is an important question to find the
answer to because that answer drives the thrust of everything we do as a
society from politics, to economics, to psychology, to religion, etc. Now before you all think I've fallen off the
deep end with this hyperbole, allow me to clarify. If sin is a learned response (i.e., nurture),
then there ought to be a social/political/economic solution to sin. In other words, if we can improve the
socioeconomic conditions of people, we can do away with sin. People who think sin is a learned response
believe that poor living conditions, poverty, political or social discrimination
all lead to the bad behavior (sin) people commit.
But does it?
This country has been the laboratory for socioeconomic engineering and
experimentation for the past 40 years.
We have done a wonderful job of reducing poverty, removing barriers of
discrimination, improving social conditions, but has this seen the
corresponding drop in crime and anti-social behavior the experts
predicted? Arguments can be made for
both sides of this debate, but I really believe that conditions may change, but
people remain the same. Maybe the rates
of some crimes have dropped, but the rates of others have risen. Not to mention the obvious rise in
anti-social and immoral behavior that the Bible considers sinful.
It's clear to me that sin is not a learned
response, but comes natural to human beings.
We are not sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners. This is what theologians call "original
sin." The propensity in human
beings to commit acts that are at their core anti-social and immoral. How did this happen? The verse above says that sin entered the world through one man, and
death through sin. Who is this one
man? Adam. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the
garden, they introduced sin into the world and thereby corrupted human
nature. Where humanity was once in
harmony with God and His plans, we are now at dissonance with God and His
plans. Unfortunately, it did not end
there. That corrupt human nature is passed
from one generation to the next getting worse and worse; as today's verse continues,
and in this way death came to all men,
because all sinned.
If this seems hard to swallow, try this
little thought experiment: If you did
nothing to your children in the way of punishment and discipline, just fed them
clothed them and fulfilled their every desire, what are the chances that they
would grow up to be well-mannered, well-adjusted, polite, considerate,
selfless, civilized people? If anyone
thinks this percentage chance is anything but 0%, they're not dealing with
reality; order does not naturally come from chaos. But if you believe in the inherent goodness
of humanity, this has to be your position.
As hard as it may seem to accept, humanity is not inherently good, but
inherently corrupt. That is why we have
laws and restrictions, to inhibit bad behavior and promote good behavior. We sin because we're sinners!