Inclination of Man

Is it possible that in the design of humanity, man is flawed so much so that sin is inherent to man’s physiology? We were created in a Divine image and yet because of a seemingly inherent flaw or weakness in human nature, that design was (and is) too easily corrupted.

Such a statement may border on the blasphemous, yet there is a compulsion to ask in light of such evil as runs rampant in society today. The church as a collective entity seems powerless (or unwilling) to address such social concerns that are considered by many as hard evidence of a breakdown in societal standards perhaps for fear of being labeled “judgmental” or maybe for fear of alienating or being alienated. How can it be, though, that we are created in a Divine image – incorruptible, uncompromising, perfect, holy – and consistently fall short of where we need to be? Is it a question of design or the colossal influence of evil, or is it a combination of the two? Or worse, is it possible that man has redefined evil to suit a selfish purpose?

It hardly seems plausible that what is created by the Almighty Himself has any inherent flaw. Yet because of this incredible and priceless gift we know as free will, the divine image will take a beating not because He is not known but because humanity is known better. Man has an enormous capacity for good as evidenced by the countless missions and missionaries at home and abroad, the fruits of their labors being well-known and well-documented. Yet these same persons who exercise their free will to do good are created by the same One who also created Adolf Hitler, Idi Amin, and Jeffery Dommer, to name only a few.

The evil which exists in this world and influences such blatant acts as those perpetrated by mankind must surely be the same evil that encourages us to cheat on our spouses, commit unnatural sexual acts, take things which clearly do not belong to us, destroy unborn children in the name of “choice”, and withhold our abundant resources from those who are in such desperate need. Still those who commit these and other acts that are contrary to biblical teachings consider themselves to be “basically” good persons capable of charitable acts but with a different system of core values or beliefs.

Are there degrees of evil measured only by the severity of consequence? For instance, can a homosexual relationship involving two consenting adults be viewed in the same manner as the contrast between an overweight American who obviously eats more than is needed (apart from those with contributing medical conditions) and a child who is hungry and left to fend for herself through no fault (choice) of her own? And can either of these be fairly compared to the atrocities currently being committed in Darfur and other parts of the world?

It is a fair question of judgment values by which we determine the “good” or “bad” nature of a particular act, and it seems easy for us to make a decision based on the relativity of consequence such as who might be hurt directly as a result of our action. Too often, however, the indirect consequences of our actions are less noticeable and seemingly unworthy of our consideration because, we reason, we cannot control – nor should we be held responsible for - the behavior of others who will make their own free will choices. Even though our actions may influence a particular response, we still let ourselves off the hook by insisting that others are free to make their own choices independently.

Even a political theory known as “realism” acknowledges that man is prone to conflict and violence, and this theory is based upon political observations from theorists and philosophers past. Man has an instinct to survive, so the thought of Jesus’ teaching to “turn the other cheek” violates our inherent nature, instincts that seem bred in us. Jesus calls us, in this instance, to move beyond our animalistic instincts and strive toward something better, something more perfect and holy that transcends our human nature.

It would seem, then, that our inherent nature is as much a part of a divine design as the gift of free will. We are designed to survive, to breed, and to flourish. Man was given dominion over the earth and all that is in it as a means by which to survive. The nature which resides within us to protect that which is needed is also equally capable of perceiving any who attempt to share as a threat against our existence.

There is no flaw in our design. The image in which we were created is without blemish. It is our instinct and our ability to reason that has separated us from Eden.