Resisting Original Consequence

Resisting the sins of our fathers.

This might be deeply unpopular but...

I think even my staunchest atheist friends would agree that the Bible nails this truth:

We are punished for the actions (sins) of our ancestors. (Ex 34:7, Nm 14:18, Ex 20:5, De 5:9)

But not in a simplistic manner (i.e. I get cancer cause my grandfather shot a man). No, what I'm getting at is that the dysfunction of our ancestors gets passed along to each new generation. We see that clearly in conditions such as alcoholism, poverty, and bigotry to name a few. We even have a name for battling it: breaking the cycle.

And the greatest cycle that humanity is caught in is illustrated in the original passing of sin. Every Christian knows that Genesis 3 is where "Original Sin" enters our history but I think we sometimes forget that the "Original Consequence" is found IMMEDIATELY afterwards in Genesis 4 where Adam & Eve's one son, Cain, murders their other son, Abel.

The Biblical author knew that violence is the deadliest outcome of missing the mark of being in concert with God. And you can make a strong argument that Jesus came primarily to demonstrate and rescue us from this seemingly endless cycle of violence. He knew that we are so susceptible to resorting to it.

Now normally, in our First World lives, we don't pay much attention to that cycle. I'm guessing that few of us leave our homes prepared to fight to the death.

But then something horrific happens such as the terror attacks in Israel or, to give an American context, 9/11 and we reflexively harness our inner Cain. I know I do.

But, and here's the unpopular part, Jesus commands you not to.

I consider myself fortunate that this time I can be hashing this out as a theological conundrum rather than as a combatant, but I know that I failed in 2001 and suspect I'd fail if it was revisited to my personal doorstep.

But as a country, it is being visited upon our doorstep and I fear that collectively we will fail. That individually we will fail and that will give our leaders the grave opportunity to throw fuel on this fire and light the world aflame.

So as a Christian, I am called to resist leaning into violence no matter how tempting it is. I am called to denounce all violence as uncomfortable as that makes me feel.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

(PS: If you want to educate yourself on the non-violence of Jesus, I'd strongly recommend reading John Howard Yoder, Stanley Hauerwas, William Stringfellow, Walter Wink, Daniel Berrigan, and Miroslav Volf to name a few. I would be happy to get you an e-book of a few of these authors.)

(PPS: Not sure I intended to ever get back on this horse, but here I am)