Restoring Purpose- Christian Responses to Human Suffering and the Fall

Restoring Purpose- Christian Responses to Human Suffering and the Fall

Part One: Human Nature in Genesis 1-3

Use and cite at least two of the following topic study materials: textbook Chapter 4, Topic 3 Overview, “The Mystery of Original Sin” article, and Bible passages. Cite all of the resources used with in-text citations. These should be included on a reference page at the end of this document.

Based on at least two of the listed topic study materials, type your answer to the following questions in the box beneath each question.

What is revealed about human nature (from Genesis 1-2)? Cite and reference the textbook.

Your answer in 100-150 words:

In the beginning, man was created by God in the image of his creator. According to the Biblical in Genesis 1-2, God was good, and everything He created was good. Therefore, Adam and Eve, our First Parents, were good people. Genesis 1:27 says, “Then God said, let us make man, in our image… (New International Version). Man did not know sin, and every action they did was in obedience to God’s mandates issued after creation. Additionally, man was dependent on God and had a robust relationship with Him. According to the Biblical narration, God visited Adam every evening, and the two fellowshipped together. Therefore, human beings were naturally good people, unaware of sin, and had a strong, committed relationship with God, according to the narration in Genesis 1-2.

What are the consequences of the fall for human nature (from Genesis 3)?

Your answer in 100-150 words:

Genesis 3 highlights several consequences for human beings’ nature after the Fall when they ate fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Firstly, man became susceptible to biological death as punishment for disobeying God. Human beings also lost the intimate relationship they had with God and were expelled from the Garden of Eden. Secondly, man became aware of their nakedness, which was associated with shame and guilt. Genesis 3: 10 says, “…I heard you were in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid (New International Version). Therefore, human beings were ashamed because of disobeying God. Furthermore, human beings were cursed with covetousness. God said Eve would forever crave for her husband, a punishment that did not exist before the Fall. Therefore, human nature after the Fall is one of shame and guilt, lost the connection they had with God, and became susceptible to biological death and lust.

What is revealed about human purpose? What does it mean for humans to flourish, in other words, to achieve spiritual, emotional, and mental well-being? Cite and reference “The Mystery of Original Sin” article.

Your answer in 100-150 words:

The human purpose was to flourish after being placed in the Garden of Eden. According to the “Mystery of Original Sin” article, Adam was instructed by God to tend to the Garden of Eden and was given dominion over every living and non-living creature. Preternatural gifts, such as intelligence to name animals, immortality, relationship with God, and being unashamed of their nakedness, were given to mankind to help them thrive in the Garden of Eden (Dubarle 145). Even though, eventually, man would die, they would not experience the biological mortality that sinful human beings undergo after the Fall. Therefore, God has human beings’ preternatural gifts to help them flourish mentally, emotionally, and spiritually in the Garden of Eden.

How would pantheism or atheism (choose one) view human nature, human purpose, and human flourishing?

Your answer in 100-150 words:

According to atheists, human beings are intuitive and creative. People have a superior brain capacity to that of animals, which makes them have dominion over living and non-living things. Therefore, people flourish because of their inborn superior nature and not because of God’s decision, as promoted by Christians. Further, human nature is naturally deceptive. People are naturally interested in advancing their own wants and needs over others, and curiosity is an innate human nature that should not be castigated, as Christians do when they say it led to the expulsion of human beings from the Garden of Eden. Lastly, the purpose of human beings is to live, and to survive while at it, even if it means using dubious methods to achieve the same. Therefore, human beings will naturally flourish because they have a superior brain to animals, are typically self-interested and curious, and will do anything to survive, as this is their purpose on earth.

The question, “How can an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good God allow suffering?” is called the problem of evil and suffering. Briefly summarize the Christian worldview’s response to the problem of evil and suffering. Cite and reference the topic overview and/or the textbook.

Your answer in 100-150 words:

The problem of evil and suffering is permissible according to Christianity, as it is punishment to mankind for deviating from God’s original intention for placing them on earth. In truth, God is good, all-powerful, and all-knowing, which is why He had given mankind preternatural gifts (Dubarle 145). Moreover, God explicitly instructed Adam and Eve not to eat fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Evil and Good for them to continue living in God’s plan. God intended for man to live a happy, flourishing life on earth, using their preternatural gifts to achieve the same. However, mankind rebelled, wanting to be like God. The rebelliousness of human beings resulted in their punishment, as discussed. Therefore, human beings earned the right to be punished by being rebellious in nature.

Part Two: Consequence of the Fall Today

Select a Christian organization from the “Christian Organizations That Address a Consequence of the Fall” list provided in the topic study materials.

Based on your selection, research the issue that the organization addresses. Use and cite at least two academic resources from the GCU Library. Cite all of the resources used with in-text citations. These resources should also be included on a reference page at the end of this document.

Based on your research, address the following: highlight how the consequences of the fall are evident in the issue(s) that the organization addresses; include statistics, causes, and impact on people (victim, perpetrator, others as appropriate).

Your answer in 75-100 words:

One consequence of the Fall was that human beings would toil hard to eat, as the ground was cursed to produce thorns, implying that hunger was introduced into the earth. The Salvation Army is a Christian organization that addresses hunger in the world, offering food to underprivileged societies across the world. The website does not give overall statistics of people it has helped this far but indicates that most people who need food donating are afflicted by natural disasters and droughts, in accordance with God’s curse of the land. The impact of the above natural disasters is that people lose their lives because of hunger.

Describe how this issue creates dehumanization and diminishes human dignity. Include statistics, causes, and impact on people (victim, perpetrator, others as appropriate).

Your answer in 75-100 words:

Hunger is dehumanizing and diminishes human dignity, as it causes people to beg when experienced in extremities. Begging is dehumanizing, as it strips the human being of their dignity (Bernal). People who beg frequently are viewed as a nuisance by society, even when their reasons for doing the same are pure. The impact of excessive begging on victims is that, in the end, they may be ignored after being helped frequently. Hungry people may eventually die from being ignored by well-wishers who are tired of assisting regularly, even when the reason for hunger is beyond their control.

Part Three: Analysis of a Christian Organization’s Solution

Use and cite the organization’s website in addition to the topic study materials. Cite all of the resources used with in-text citations. These should also be included on a reference page at the end of this document.

Write how the Christian worldview ministry that you selected is combatting the consequence of the fall.

What organizational statement reveals that this organization is operating from a Christian worldview?

Your answer in 250-300 words:

The Salvation Army’s mission statement is “To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs in His name without discrimination.” (“Mission.”). Additionally, the organization’s vision is to be united in prayer, have a deep spiritual-based life, develop identified leaders, and promote enhanced self-denial and self-support. The Salvation Army’s mission is also stated on its website as, “Into the world of the hurting, broken, lonely, dispossessed, and lost, reaching them by all means…” (“Vision.”). Therefore, the organization aims to reach children and the youth, support the marginalized, and promote its Christianity in the achievement of the mentioned mission statement. The organization’s purpose is to spread the gospel of Christ without shame, discipline and evangelize in countries of operation, and encourage members to be innovative in advancing its mission. The statements above are lifted from The Salvation Army’s website and are all based on a Christianity worldview. The organization helps disadvantaged and vulnerable people by offering them a variety of services, such as emergency disaster response, healthcare, and education. However, as The Salvation Army executes its mission, it also preaches the gospel of Jesus Christ to beneficiaries of its services (“Vision.”). The organization helps people suffering from the consequences of the Fall, such as the hungry, by giving them food and educating them on ways to earn an income for them to independently afford the food without the help of The Salvation Army. Further, The Salvation Army helps marginalized people, as indicated on its website. However, as the organization delivers its vision statement, it also preaches Jesus Christ to people who benefit from its services. Therefore, the Salvation Army preserves human dignity and ends dehumanization in societies through its charitable services executed from the Christian viewpoint.

Explain how the organization uses a God-centered worldview (as defined in the “The Mystery of Original Sin” article) to address dehumanization and restore human dignity.

Your answer in 250-300 words:

According to the article “The Mystery of Original Sin”, human beings were cursed after the Fall. Some of the curses mankind was subjected to include experiencing droughts from the thorns on the ground and losing the divine spiritual connection with God (Dubarle 142). The mentioned courses are highly dehumanizing and cause shame and embarrassment for people who experience them today. For instance, the ground was cursed, and mankind was told they would forever depend on it for survival. Therefore, in manifesting God’s curse, the ground at times refuses to give produce, as expected by human beings, after tilling and planting crops. When there is a drought, people are compelled to beg for food from other countries or communities, an action that is embarrassing and ashamed (Walker et al. 2). Therefore, when The Salvation Army helps communities experiencing food procuring problems by donating food, it takes away the dehumanizing aspect of hunger, propelled by God’s curse after the Fall. Moreover, human beings lost the divine connection they shared with God before the Fall. Every day, God visited Adam and Eve and fellowshipped with them. However, after the Fall, God severed the intimate relationship He had with mankind, which promoted covetousness in human beings. When human beings are sinful because they lack a relationship with God, they engage in evil acts, such as drug abuse, corruption, injustices, and wars. Through engaging in the above actions, human beings debase their value and may be subjected to dehumanizing consequences when apprehended for the same. The Salvation Army helps sinful men by preaching the Christian gospel, which helps them receive salvation and reconnect with God. When followers are saved, they cease engaging in activities that dehumanized them in the past.

Works Cited

Bernal, Jennifer, et al. “Food Insecurity of Children Increases Shame of Others Knowing They Are without Food.” The FASEB Journal, vol. 29, no. S1, 2015.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19320248.2016.1157543

Dubarle, A. The biblical doctrine of original sin. New York: Herder & Herde, 1964.

“Mission.” The Salvation Army International – The Salvation Army International, www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/Mission. Accessed 30 July 2021.

“Vision.” The Salvation Army International – The Salvation Army International, www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/vision. Accessed 30 July 2021.

Walker, Robert, et al. “Poverty in Global Perspective: Is Shame a Common Denominator?” Journal of Social Policy, vol. 42, no. 2, 2013, pp. 215-233.

ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE

We’ll write everything from scratch

---

In this assignment, you will identify the consequences of humanity’s fall that led to human suffering and describe how a Christian organization fights back for its creational purpose.

One of the central components of every worldview is the topic of human nature. The topic of human nature asks questions about human value, human flourishing, and human purpose. Within the Christian worldview, the issue of sin and the consequences of the fall factor prominently into the topic of human nature.

In the “Consequences of the Fall and Contemporary Response” three-part document, you will explore the topic of human nature from the perspective of the Christian worldview. The first part of the assignment involves examining the immediate implications of the fall. The second and third parts of the assignment address how the effects of the fall are still evident in the world today.

For Part Two and Part Three, you will select an organization from the “Christian Organizations That Address a Consequence of the Fall” list provided in the topic study materials.

While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.

Reminder: This is a templated document so the LopesWrite score will be higher due to the directions and questions.