I’ll bet 3 dollars that more people realize the volatility of Christian faith than are willing to admit. No matter your proximity to God, Jesus, Holy Ghost, Bible, or even the Church, you have without question encountered the “fickle faith” at some point, in some way.
Even the term “Christian” has earned such a stigma that many of us who try emulating this Jesus dude……well, just don’t want to be called one.
Blame Adam. Blame Eve. Yeah, I’m going there.
I honestly can’t remember ever using the OT, especially Adam & Eve, for a reference for any kind of talk. So, if this is a total bust you can come to where I work and throw rocks at me.
Let’s just call them “A&E”, which just happens to be my favorite television station.
A&E have a story. We know it. We’ve heard it. We may not all believe it, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t ALL apply something from their story.
That freakin’ fruit. What was so bad about it? Why was there a tree with bad fruit in a good place? I think those are valid questions.
The one I really want to ask is much bigger. Was it a real tree?
Or, was it the principle of a concept?
You have a “good tree” and a “bad tree”. Eat from one, not the other.
Eat from the “tree of life” or eat from the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil”.
This story is so often related to obedience or disobedience. But have you ever related these trees to yourself?
They’re both pretty self explanatory. The tree of life is simply that. It’s good. Not bad, or rotten. Not bitter. It’s refreshing and energizing.
The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is the direct opposite. Almost.
It appears fresh and ready to eat. It may sparkle. It may smell appetizing. The problem comes after you give in. Knowledge of good and evil.
It’s this knowledge that breeds legalism, judgmental attitudes and outlooks, gossip, defamation, deceit, pain, injury, and brokenness.
If all we know is good, then our faith can remain pure. With the knowledge of both concepts, though, we see all the things that make us question our faith and our God. It makes us question others. Even the ones we’re closest to.
We have the knowledge. We can’t shake it. But we can make it a point to build our “club houses” in the tree of life. Hang out in that one.
I’ve spent far too much time in the tree of knowledge, making me critical and unpleasant. Making me the kind of Christian that makes other Christians not want to be called Christians.
When I look at others, I only want to notice the good. Kinda like the way Jesus looks at me.
What would Christianity be like if we’d keep our asses out of that damned tree? Let’s build a tree house big enough for everyone, in the tree of life.