 | The Reverend Doctor Cathy Northrup was born in Ft. Meade, MD, and was raised in a variety of places in the United State and Germany, as her father was in Counter Intelligence with the Army. She graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN, with a double major in English and Religion. She graduated from Georgetown Law Center in Washington, DC, and practiced law with the Federal Reserve Board for a number of years before attending Union Theological Seminaryin Richmond, VA. She graduated from Union, and served several churches in North and South Carolina, at the same time obtaining her Doctor of Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, NJ. Dr. Northrup is currently the Pastor/Head of Staff of First Presbyterian Church, Wichita, KS. She is married and has two black Labrador dogs who were rescued from abusive situations. You can contact Dr. Northrup at cnorthrup@firstpresbywichita.org or by phone at (316) 263-0248, ext. 26. |
Religion
2010-09-01 13:38:00
Was there sin before the commandments?
Answer: This is an interesting question. To answer, I need to first note that the Ten Commandments were given to God’s people in the wilderness as he shaped them into a people. The commandments set the boundaries for behavior for a people who had been slaves and were not used to freedom and choices. In giving the commandments, God was showing them the way to live. Thus, the commandments should not be seen as a list of negatives, but as the way to abundant life. One commentator has compared the commandments to the lights that outline a runway at night when a plane is trying to land; they show the way to safety.
I also need to note that sin is not simply breaking a rule or a commandment given by God. Ever since Adam and Eve chose to rebel against God and not to trust in his direction, choosing instead to follow their own way and eat of the tree, humanity has a fallen nature. That is, we are in a state of sin; it is only through God’s grace that we can be saved. Any good we do is then empowered by God’s Spirit within us.
So, to answer the question, those who lived “in between” Adam and Eve, and Moses, were sinful human beings, as we all are. Also, as Paul notes in Romans 1, creation itself reveals God and goodness, so there is no excuse for anyone. I should also note that Hebrews speak of those who, during that period, lived by faith, not knowing of the law to come or even of Jesus Christ.
The good news is that Jesus died for all persons and his salvation is for all, not simply for persons who knew the law or those who lived after him.
