Fully Alive - A Conversation with Elizabeth Oldfield
Faith Matters
Sin as a Relational Fracture
The dominant metaphors of sin are often framed in legal and economic terms, focusing on concepts like debt, punishment, and reward. However, a Trinitarian theological perspective posits that the essence of God is relationship, and by extension, the essence of humanity is also relational. The primary issue stemming from this framework is the relational fracture that occurs between God and humanity, manifesting in a breakdown of trust and leading to shame and disconnection. This understanding redefines sin not merely as a legal or economic fault but as a failure in relational dynamics. The concept of legal frameworks and economics also reveals underlying relationships, emphasizing how these connections can become damaged or healed. Furthermore, the idea of 'homo incurvatus in se,' which describes humanity turning inward rather than outward towards God and others, encapsulates the nature of sin as resistance to relationality. This inward turn hinders our ability to love God fully and to love our neighbors, illustrating that sin's true form is this rejection of connection and community.
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