Original Blessing means more than Original Sin

7th March 2019



Regular Network Norfolk columnist Philip Young explains why we should always look for the good in each other
 

Are we miserable sinners without any hope of doing good?

 
Or are we wonderfully made in God’s likeness with goodness at our centre?
 
Does Original Sin dominate or Original Blessing?
 
Well, as human beings we can sometimes feel as if there is no goodness in us and that we are doomed to fail at every turn. Paul sees it this way when, in his letter to the Romans, he quotes from Psalm 14, “There is no-one who does good, no, not one”.  And sometimes we can despair as we look around us and see so much human evil in the world and in ourselves
 
However, we should not despair as we have Good News at the heart of our faith
 
The Good News is that the light has overcome the darkness and that love has overcome fear
 
Original Blessing is stronger than Original Sin. In Genesis it is the creation of the world that comes first, and the creation is named as being very good. Early on Original Sin enters into the story as Adam and Eve give way to temptation, but it comes after the Original Blessing. We are still creatures made in God’s image and likeness
 
And Jesus comes with Good News. He preaches love and forgiveness and has come to restore God’s Original Blessing
 
Therefore, what should dominate our lives is Blessing rather than cursing
 
As we approach one another we seek out the God/good in them and seek to be in touch with God’s blessing of them as his children
 
And this does make a huge practical difference. If we look at each other and are dominated by what is wrong with the other person, then we can be sucked into a vicious circle of blame and negativity
 
If, however, we approach people seeking out that which is Godly in them then we can reach out to them with blessing and encouragement
 
Let’s decide to bless one another and not to curse the wrong in them
 
For it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness 
 

Philip is an Anglican, Quaker, and a member of the Third Order of Franciscans, and now lives in Felixstowe. Until July 2014 he was the Diocesan Environmental Officer for the Norwich Diocese. In June 2017 he stood as an Independent Candidate for the General Election in the Suffolk Coastal Constituency.  He is now Associate Priest at St John and St Edmund in Felixstowe and a freelance writer on spiritual and political matters. He is available to run Quiet Days, give talks, presentations or to preach and can be contacted at philipyoung@btinternet.com. Philip is developing a new website 
www.revolutionoflovenow.com
 

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