{"id":344,"date":"2008-02-04T01:01:38","date_gmt":"2008-02-04T01:01:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/markdroberts\/2008\/02\/paradise-lost.html"},"modified":"2008-02-04T01:01:38","modified_gmt":"2008-02-04T01:01:38","slug":"paradise-lost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/2008\/02\/paradise-lost.html","title":{"rendered":"Paradise Lost"},"content":{"rendered":"

Part 4 of series: Being the People of God
\n<\/em>Permalink for this post<\/a> \/ Permalink for this series<\/a>
\nIn recent posts I’ve been reflecting on the creation accounts in Genesis 1 and 2, looking for insights into what it means for us to be the people of God. We’ve seen that God created humankind in community as male and female, and gave them the twin tasks of making more people and taking care of his creation. Though looking at creation from different perspectives, both Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 emphasize the essentially corporate dimensions of human existence. God did not create simply one person to enjoy perfect fellowship with God. Rather, God created two people, whom God intended to share in the work of managing the world, filling it with more people, and enjoying perfect intimacy with each other in the process. In Paradise they knew what it was to be God’s people together.
\nBut because they chose to disobey God, Paradise was lost. Genesis 3 tells the sad story of human rebellion against God, of human desire to be like God in sovereignty and knowledge rather than living as his servants and stewards. After being tempted by the serpent, first the woman, and then the man along with her, ate of the forbidden fruit. In the next moments, God’s plans for his people unraveled, at least in the short run. From that moment onward, being God’s people became much more complicated and elusive.
\nIf you were to ask the average Christian, “What’s the first result of human sin?”, chances are that person would say something like, “Separation from God. Eternal separation from God. Death.” Theologically speaking, this is surely the right answer (see, for example, Romans 6:23). But in the narrative of Genesis 3, the first result of human sin is a breakdown in the relationship between the man and woman. Whereas in Genesis 2 the man and woman were naked and unashamed (2:25), in Genesis 3, sin leads to shame, and the first couple try to hide their now shameful nakedness from each other by using fig leaves. (Painting: “Adam and Eve” by Albrecht D\u00fcrer, 1507; fig leaves and all)
\nSo, though it would be theologically correct to say that the first result of sin is brokenness in our relationship with God, Genesis emphasizes the implications of this brokenness for human relationships. The people whom God had created in his image to share intimacy together and to share in caring for the world together would be torn asunder by the results of their sin. To put it bluntly, sin makes it difficult, one might even say, impossible, for us to be the people of God.
\nIf you’ve ever tried to be an active member of a Christian community, you’ve no doubt experienced the corruptive influence of sin. It’s not uncommon these days for Christian people to set out to form “perfect” Christian communities. They’re going to do church in a new way. They begin with lofty ideals, ideals that often flow from the spring of Scripture. Yet, without fail, these efforts to be the people of God soon confront relational challenges that threaten their success, if not their existence. Often those who began with such enthusiastic idealism end with embittered cynicism.
\nEvery now and then, however, churches that were founded with enthusiastic hopes do not let the reality of sin destroy them. Several years ago I watched as a new church in my area exploded on the scene with dramatic and impressive growth, mostly among people in their 20s and 30s. But within the first years of its existence, its pastor committed adultery. I wondered if his sin would destroy the church he had worked so hard to plant. In fact, however, those leaders he had raised up to serve alongside him exercised unusual wisdom. They did not minimize the sin of their (former) pastor, but received his resignation and helped him to rebuild his life. They led the church through a relational minefield. The result, by God’s grace, was a stronger church.
\nBy telling this story, I’m getting way ahead of myself. The main point I’m making here is that sin makes it extremely difficult to be the people of God. Indeed, it would be impossible apart from God’s grace. When we take the reality of sin seriously, then we won’t be surprised when it threatens to quash our efforts to be the people of God.
\nSin impacts, not only our relationships with each other as God’s people, but also our efforts to act as God’s people in the world. More about this next time. . . .<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Part 4 of series: Being the People of God Permalink for this post \/ Permalink for this series In recent posts I’ve been reflecting on the creation accounts in Genesis 1 and 2, looking for insights into what it means for us to be the people of God. We’ve seen that God created humankind in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":214,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-being-the-people-of-god"],"yoast_head":"\nParadise Lost - Mark D. 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Roberts","description":"Mark D. Roberts: Thoughtfully Christian Reflections on Jesus, the Church, and the World","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/1ff094a57b7e41f534434b1723df3d73","name":"Mark D. Roberts","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","caption":"Mark D. Roberts"},"description":"The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a pastor, author, retreat leader, speaker, and blogger. Since October 2007 he has been the Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence for Laity Lodge, a multifaceted ministry in the Hill Country of Texas. Before coming to Laity Lodge, he was for sixteen years the Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California (a city in Orange County about forty miles south of Los Angeles). Before his time at Irvine Pres, Mark served on the staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood as Associate Pastor of Education. (Thanks to Janel Pahl for taking the photo to the right.) Mark studied at Harvard University, receiving a B.A. in Philosophy, an M.A. in the Study of Religion, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins. He has taught classes in New Testament for Fuller Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Mark has written several books, including No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer (WaterBrook, 2005), Dare to Be True (WaterBrook, 2003), Jesus Revealed (WaterBrook, 2002), After \"I Believe\" (Baker, 2002), and Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Word, 1993). His most recent book is Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (Crossway, 2007). He is currently working on a commentary on Ephesians that will be published by Zondervan in 2014. Mark writes a devotional for The High Calling of Our Daily Work, a website associated with Laity Lodge. His \"Daily Reflections\" can be viewed online or sent as a daily email. If you wish to receive this email, just visit TheHighCalling.org and sign up. Mark serves on the editorial board of Worship Leader magazine, where he publishes articles and reviews, including his regular column \"Lyrical Poetry.\" Additionally, he has published dozens of articles in leading magazines and journals. He often speaks for churches and other Christian groups, and has been interviewed on over seventy-five radio programs nationwide. Mark is married to Linda, who is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Spiritual Director, and a retreat speaker. They have two children, Nathan and Kara.For Publicity Photos and Bio Statements for Mark, please check here. Mark's Dossier Professional History: Senior Director and Scholar-in Residence, Laity Lodge, October 2007 to present. Senior Pastor Irvine Presbyterian Church, June 1991 to September 2007 Adjunct Assistant Professor Fuller Theological Seminary, 1994 to 2007. Courses: New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Adjunct Instructor San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1995 to 2001. Courses: New Testament Greek and Exegesis Associate Pastor of Education First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, 1987-1991 Teaching Fellow Harvard University, 1980-1983 Education: Ph.D. in the Study of Religion. Harvard University, 1992. Area: New Testament and Christian Origins M.A. in the Study of Religion Harvard University, 1984. A.B. magna cum laude in Philosophy Harvard University, 1979. Phi Beta Kappa; Danforth Fellowship Books: Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Crossway, 2007 No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer. WaterBrook, 2005 Dare to Be True: Living in the Freedom of Complete Honesty. WaterBrook, 2003. Jesus Revealed: Know Him Better to Love Him Better. WaterBrook, 2002. After \"I Believe\": Experiencing Authentic Christian Living. Baker, 2002. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther in the Communicator's Commentary Series. Word, 1993. Contacting Mark: You can reach Mark at: E-mail: mark@markdroberts.com mroberts@laitylodge.org Phone: Laity Lodge: (830) 792-1216 Address: Laity Lodge 719 Earl Garrett Kerrville, TX 78028","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/author\/mroberts"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/344","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/214"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=344"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/344\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=344"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=344"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=344"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}