Is Adam Stronger Than God?

Tough Questions for Christians #30—Adam v. Jesus
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AZ’s question is pretty complicated this time, so let me try to simplify it. Adam, though his one action, caused the downfall of all humanity—we all sin because Adam sinned. Jesus, on the other hand, saves some of humanity through his sacrifice. But Adam was a finite human and Jesus is divine. How can it be that Adam’s action is stronger than Jesus’?

This is a pretty insightful question. Just as a sidenote, I just want to say that I appreciate AZ’s work. Most critics of Christianity have such a sparse concept of Christian theology that it is easy to dispute with what the theology actually is. AZ has a clear idea of Christian theology (most of the time) and then takes the theology to its logical next step. This is helpful and smart. This is a great service to the Christian church. So I want to just give a ‘thank you’ to AZ for his hard work for our benefit. It’s too bad he seems so bitter against the church that he can’t hear the real answers.

Back to the question. The basic problem is that Adam is father of all humanity, so he had a head start. Again, God gave humanity the opportunity to rule the world as they pleased and He refuses to take that away from them. Adam took that opportunity and led himself and his children away from listening to God’s wisdom. We are not sinners born. I believe we are primarily sinners taught. Taught by society and by example to do as we please, except where we displease our human authorities. We are not taught to love, we are not taught to do justice, except the most rudimentary kind. And if we do learn justice, we quickly learn that justice doesn’t exist in the adult, “real” world. So whatever expectations we had, they are soon taken away from us. Adam’s way, his leadership style, is the norm.

Jesus is the one leading us to go against the grain. To act out in mercy, no matter what the consequences. To be just, no matter what the consequences. To listen to God and ignore all other counsel. To love God with all my heart, no matter what else is tempting me to stray. This is true rebellion, to act in this way.

And humanity, for the most part, is a traditional society. We exist in entropy. That which was is what is and what will be. Jesus’ truth is not just a story. It’s about a new life. And this new life is not traditional—not even among the church.

This week I have been butting my head against Adam’s traditionalism. Others and I are struggling as to the proper use of a church facility. I want to use it for the poor, the immigrants, for peace in the community. But another church leader is saying that that path is too legally dangerous, too full of liabilities. That is the way of fear, the way of self-service, the way of retaining that which was built even though it is doing no one any benefit. The way of Jesus is radical mercy. It is having the courage to face death, persecution and yes, even court and insurance companies, for the sake of doing benefit for those who truly need it.

If we persist in fear, we are in the way of Adam. But it is only natural to do this. That’s the way of the world. Jesus’ way, although divine and divinely powered is ultimately too scary for the majority of humanity.