Jason Kanz has a guest post at Take Your Vitamin Z related to what I’ve been writing regarding cleansing and defilement. Here is the last paragraph:
We are all dirty right down to the core of our being. But we cannot be cleansed unless we know that we are dirty. Jesus came to clean the dirty. “For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the LORD from all your sins.” (Leviticus 16:30)
Read the whole thing.
“dirty right down to the core of our being” — what happened to the image of God in each human person, is that not at the core? what happened to human dignity whereby we hold off the totalitarians and tyrants? what happened to common grace?
Thanks for commenting Albert. You are absolutely right that we are made in the image of God and that this at the core of who we are as humans. It is the image of God at our core that gives all people everywhere dignity.
My point in posting this quote is that in relation to God we are dirty at our core because we have deliberately marred God’s image in us by rebelling against him, by refusing to trust him and obey him. By this rebellion we became defiled and in need of cleansing.
I guess I am saying that we can both have the image of God at our core and be dirty right down to the core at the same time.
Unsatisfactory, but I appreciate your effort. In relation to God, we are the Trinitarian image (Jeremy Ive), I woud say, we don’t “have” the image (which you didn’t say explicitly but I think it’s still implied). I believe in Original Blessing, not Original Sin. According to the Biblical story, as I read it, sin is not original; it’s important but it is second and secondary in a certain sense. You don’t reflect a strong view of creation, nor of human mandated creational stewardship. I woudn’t speak of “marred” in any permenant sense, “dirty” is okay by me except it carries a heavy connotation of sexually evil behaviour in our English language — misinterpretation over the centuries, I’d think. You, please, have the last word if you care to.
Thanks for your response Albert. I do agree with you that we don’t want to say we merely “have” the image of God. We are created in the image of God, not simply created and then stamped with his image.
I like your point about Original Blessing since that certainly precedes any sin. You are right that sin is not original. However, even though the term “Original Sin” might imply things that are not true (i.e. sin is original), the concept is still present in the Bible, namely that we all sinned in Adam and thus are by nature sinners. Only three people entered the world not being by nature sinners: Adam, Eve and of course Jesus.
Thanks also for your caution in using the word “dirty.” You are right that it carries a sexual connotation. That certainly isn’t how I meant it.
Your comments are helpful in causing us all to think carefully about what we say and how we say it. Thank you.