What a complex organism is the human being! A mixture of flesh, blood, sinews, bone, organs, and many of the minerals found in the earth. Yet, the word organism doesn’t quite do it. It seems to me we are better called beings than simply biological organisms.
Being for us humans means more than existence; breathing in and out, pumping blood, moving, reacting, and thinking. Humans have tried to think and act in moral ways; even ways that can benefit others without benefit to oneself. Someone once created the word “soul” as a way of recognizing we are more than mere biology.
The age old debate concerning us humans is the debate as to whether we are basically good or bad. Genesis says upon our creation we were “good.” Genesis also says it is we and we alone responsible for sin. That is “bad”. Sin is downright evil at its core.
I wonder if the real answer to the debate as to whether we and all are good or bad is this: it depends upon the moment the question is asked. This may or may not be an answer that satisfies, but tread lightly here. Martin Luther said we are simultaneously saint and sinner; good and bad, if you will. Simultaneously. As we do a good deed, we are simultaneously yet a sinner. As we cheat our neighbor, we are simultaneously loved by the God who created us. We are like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. One can never taste just the peanut butter or just the jelly. Both flavors are there simultaneously for the palate.
We never debate such things as: Is the Mississippi River a “good” river or a “bad” river?
It provides water for many important uses, it is a natural partner in much transportation. Even in flooding it deposits new and rich soil. Yet that same flooding can and often does destroy lives. That same flow can transport not only cargo and people but chemicals and pollutants. But we do not, and should not, debate its goodness. We simply accept it for what it is. We enjoy its benefits, and build levees and such for its more wanton ways.
With our ease of ability to accept much of nature as it is, why can we not accept humanity as it is? Flawed, often ambivalent, humanity. Puzzling, joyous, frustrating humanity. Why must we work to pigeon-hole humanity into a cage of good or bad?
As followers of Christ, we are neither called to judge nor repair humanity. As simultaneous ones ourselves we can do neither. Jesus did not come to fix us. Jesus came to redeem us; a much more arduous task. This is our call as well. We are called to pass along that redemption, pass along that news of redemption, by sharing it with others who are simultaneous ones.
Redemption is the call to love, to forgive, and to bring new life to places of death. Redemption is for simultaneous ones to not let that sinner part hold them back from the saintly portion. Redemption for followers of Christ is to now repeatedly throughout life God does not let the worst of our sin separate us from God or God’s love. This does not fix us, but it enables us to live with us. Can we simultaneous ones ask for more?
As the toe bone is connected to the foot bone, so, it seems, is sin and goodness connected to the human person. Worry less about whether we are good or bad. Rejoice more that even though we struggle with accepting ourselves, we see in Jesus that we have a God who accepts us…..all of us.