THE MULTIFACTORIAL NATURE OF SIN

In the practice of medicine, it is becoming increasingly common to say that the causative factors for a disease is multifactorial.

Many times, this refers to the fact that the particular disease in question has both genetic and environmental components associated with it.  For example, some people are genetically predisposed to hypertension, but certain environmental triggers/factors such as lack of exercise, a high-cholesterol diet would make such a genetically predisposed individuals a higher chance of expressing those diseases. Thus, health practitioners could channel their energy into reducing environmental triggers or take the bull by the horn and face the genetic predisposition. This does not mean, however, that someone who has no hereditary predisposition to the disease cannot come up with it.

As well, sin is multifactorial. We are taught by the Bible, that when we born, we have a genetic make-up that favors the practice of sin- it’s in our DNA. You don’t have to try to have brown eyes if that’s what is in your DNA because it will simply express itself; regardless of your desires or positive confessions. It comes out naturally, and so the same can be said for humanity and sin. It would simply come out of you effortlessly. (My people will say ‘o wa lara e’- transliterated as its within you).

I have 2 points to make:

1.     EVERY true Christian has new genes. It is no longer within us to sin (from a genetic standpoint). But as the environment we live in favors sin to a large extent, it is way too easy to continue in sin; giving rise to a double lifestyle- despite our genetic wiring. Just as not all individuals with hypertension have a genetic predisposition to it, not all who sin have genes that code for sin.

2.     A moralist can live by the rules, limiting his contact with everything sinful, but that doesn't free him genetically from sin. To be truly free from sin, we have to work on both our genes and our environment.

   

    A final quote from Watchman Nee: 'God's pleasure or displeasure is not founded upon the principle of good and evil. Rather, God traces the source of all things. An action may be quite correct yet God inquires, what is its origin?'

A