Falling Upward
In Theology is for Proclamation, Gerhard Forde writes about the fall of mankind:
Adam and Eve fell into sin. The fall is really not what the word implies at all. It is not a downward plunge to some lower level in the great chain of being, some lower rung on the ladder of morality and freedom. Rather it is an upward rebellion, an invasion of the realm of things “above,” the usurping of divine prerogative. To retain traditional language, one would have to resort to an oxymoron and speak of an “upward fall.” This, after all, is precisely what the temptation by the serpent in the garden implies: “You will not die… you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4-5). A line had been drawn over which Adam and Eve were not to step. They were not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. There was a realm “above” which they were to leave to God; if they did not, their death would result. But the tempter insinuated, “Don’t believe it for an instant! God is only jealous of the divine preserve! God knows that if you step over the line you will not die but become gods. You have something going for you! You have divine qualities, you have an immortal soul.” So the step is taken. It is rebellion, an upward fall.
The first Adam ventured up into the “realm of things above” and brought death. The second Adam ventured down into the “realm of things below” and brought life.
The temptation for Christians is to think that once God saves us we move beyond the First Adamic impulse to fall upward. The truth is, however, that even after God saves us we continue to fall upward–trying to claim for ourselves (in such subtle ways) the glory that belongs to God alone; trying to secure for ourselves the rescue that God alone can provide. “The essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man. Man asserts himself against God and puts himself where only God deserves to be; God sacrifices himself for man and puts himself where only man deserves to be.” (Stott)
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This is so brilliant because it’s so true. Given the most perfect scenario. Given an intimate relationship with their creator, Adam and Eve still were tempted by the notion of “being like God”. And how would they be like Him? “Knowing good and evil” It reminds me of this verse in Titus: “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” They gave up purity for the right to choose for themselves good and evil. They saw defilement (they immediately realized they were naked…was nudity a sin?) in the same place where moments before there was only innocence.
And you’re right. We do the same today. So often I trade the safety of my Father for my own sense of comfort or security. Thank you for this and for waving the “Grace” banner.
So true! All sin is rooted in the first two. Wanting to be God (selfish pride) and then blaming someone else when that didn’t work out so well (Self Pity). Both are rooted in fear.
Was it truly a sin? After all, God was the one who had lied.
Adam did not die that vary day and God himself admitted that man had become like himself. Any attempt to make death as God meant it a metaphore relies upon God either being unable or unwilling to communicate the true nature of what he was saying, thus either being limited in capacity or using a bit of word-trickery to state a half-truth, which is also known as a whole lie.
Man substituting himself for God, as the writer of laws and morality, after all, did result in the end of slavery, women’s liberation in the workplace and in the home, a child’s right to not be beaten or outright killed by parents.
Perhaps the bible is better understood if, sometimes, it is God that is the sinner.