Here’s part of what I mean when I say Thriving in Exile is concerned with practical Christianity. I’ve never gotten much caught up in theological arguments about original sin, i.e., are we born in sin so that we inherit guilt, or do we just inevitably choose to sin? From a practical standpoint, it doesn’t matter, because “All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory” (Rom. 3:23, CEB). We live in a broken world. Given free will and the opportunity to make choices, it’s a cinch that I’m going to mess up. That inevitably separates me from the perfect Creator.
The word translated “sin” comes an archery term that simply means “missing the target.” We know it, deep down inside: we don’t measure up. At its root, the mark we miss lies in doing what we want rather than what God wants.
That’s why I’m grateful the Creator came here, lived as one of us, and healed the separation.
I don’t understand everything involved in that. But here’s where that Dog and Cat Theology comes into play. I don’t have to understand everything. I just need to put my faith in the One who does.