No Shame In Repenting

I was interested to read these words from the very talented polymath Stephen Fry:

"In Genesis, Humanity is in some senses literally finding its feet. God has just made us (essentially as decoration, as we would introduce petunias to a bare patch of garden) and pushed us into Eden; without very much knowledge of our capability. Being so introduced to this new and confusing world, Humans are given very little in the way of direction, other than "Don't eat that fruit over there". I call this direction, but this is misleading, because no sooner are we told not to eat certain types of fruit a snake wanders up and goes "It's cool guys, you can eat the fruit. It's super delicious". Being given such conflicting advice, we err on the side of the adventurous - and of course we eat the fruit. Turns out, not only was it super-delicious, but it gave us knowledge of good and evil, so it was a good thing then.

God, however, has other ideas. Being apparently otherwise occupied whilst all this was going on, he comes back to find us quivering and gleaming in the new sun, now complete with fig-leaf underwear. Long story short: God flips out, original sin is born, child-bearing becomes unbearable, working becomes hard work. Because of this misdemeanour at the beginning of time, every human being is created sick and commanded to be well. For this tiny and meaningless slight, every human being is meant to feel shame. I remember being told this story in Sunday school, and the optimistic God-fearing volunteer teacher would almost scowl at us at this point, willing us to feel guilt for these actions. We are humans, we are dirty, we are unworthy to have the Grace of God thrust upon us.

Well I'm sorry optimistic God-fearing volunteer teacher, but I couldn't then and I won't now. I refuse to be servile to the point of emancipation, and I refuse to feel any mote of emotion for any action I hadn't the slightest bearing on, nor could have. This, then, is original sin - for what we are all ostensibly to go to hell for? I will not take responsibility for what two strangers did six-thousand years ago, no matter how apparently bad it may be. If I am to share responsibility as a human, am I meant to feel shame for the atrocities of Hitler, or the Khmer Rouge? Of course not, judgement can only be given on actions that require some form of participation from the person, be it action or inaction. If neither is possible, then we do not judge. Consider five people dying in a car crash, and then a man who lived five hundred miles away being taken to prison for it. Would we consider this action a correct one? Of course not, it's morally condemnable to punish someone for something they could not have prevented; so why are we to believe that a Benevolent and Omniscient God would take joy in it?"

I think Stephen Fry has got this a little wrong – it is not as though God wants us to walk around feeling thoroughly ashamed of ourselves; the reality is that we are all fallen, in a state of ‘sin’, but that in Christ we have the answer for our salvation.

In actual fact, there is no reason why one’s state of being in sin should have very much bearing on their personalities if they are unaware of their position in relation to God. It is not for the Christian to tell another man to confess his sins to God, for he may have private reasons why he does not want to. But it would be good for himself if he could be aware of his wrongs and seek to put them right, even in his one private thoughts – for there is little worse than a wretched man who remains unaware of what a wretched so and so he is.

Of course, the world is full of people who go about their business being largely unaware of the state of being in sin, yet of course they are able to distill moral truths from their own consciences – but that does not of course mean that observing a world full of sinful people we would expect to see everyone distressed and miserable. So unlike Stephen Fry, I can see a way in which we can be mindful of our sin (and of course our ‘sins’) and yet know that the answer to our situation hardly warrants a world full of misery and pessimism.

For those who can’t observe the distinction I am making, imagine looking in at all the people on the Titanic a few minutes before it hit the iceberg. If you could see the whole picture, you would know that it won’t be very long before the ship crashes and sinks – but you would not look on all the passengers while they were still unaware of this and expect to see them all miserable and pessimistic. Yes they are heading for a nasty surprise, but they are not really sure of their true position in relation to the whole picture, and I suppose that is what much of humanity is like in relation to their own sin.

Their perceived future is only the tip of a much more significant iceberg, which will be seen in full on judgment day when Christ returns. And whether a man finds himself rescued or drowning depends on his own decisions and his own clarity regarding his state of sin.

Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

Repent , then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you — even Jesus. Acts 3:19-20