Autor: Ormerod, Neil

Buch: Creation, Grace, and Redemption

Titel: Creation, Grace, and Redemption

Stichwort: Schöpfung (Adma, Eva); Sünde - Leid, Tod

Kurzinhalt: Surely death is "natural," part of the natural order of things? What difference does sin make in such a situation? ... Because of this new meaning the reality of suffering and death has changed for us. In this case we can say ...

Textausschnitt: Sin and Suffering

16a It is important to acknowledge that there is a strong existential linkage between the problems of suffering and evil. Even in the Christian context we find assertions of the link between sin and death-"Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned" (Rom 5:12). Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden to face trial, suffering, and death, because they ate the forbidden fruit of the tree of life. Do we in fact believe that "if Adam had not sinned then we would not have suffered and died"?

16b We know from scientific accounts that death and suffering have been part of the biological order since the very beginning of life. The death of organisms is often the basis for the life of another organism, and the decay of one generation of living beings becomes the fertilizer for the next generation of living things. Surely death is "natural," part of the natural order of things? What difference does sin make in such a situation?

16c It is difficult to speculate on what human life would be like if there were no sin. Clearly the biological capacity for death and suffering are intrinsic to one's bodily constitution. However, one suggestion we can make is that sin changes the meaning of death and suffering. Because of sin, suffering and death become ambiguous realities, tinged with a sense of loss and even punishment-Why did this happen to me? What did I do to deserve it? Why do we spontaneously link suffering with punishment in this way? Why is suffering only "fair" if it is linked somehow with guilt? Is death a joyous "return to the Father," or does it lead to judgment and the possibility of condemnation? Questions such as these indicate that suffering and death have taken on a new meaning in the light of sin and evil. Because of this new meaning the reality of suffering and death has changed for us. In this case we can say, "death came through sin" (Rom 5:12), in that the form of death we now experience is a different reality from the nature of death without sin. It has the character of "punishment for sin," which it did not have before. It is now an ambiguous event in our lives, one we face with fear and trepidation, because of the ambiguity of our lives affected by sin. (Fs) (notabene)