Consequences Of The Fall Contemporary Response

Consequences of the Fall and Contemporary Response 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. 1. What is revealed about human nature (from Genesis 1-2)? Cite and reference the textbook. Your answer in 100-150 words: In Genesis 1-2, it reveals that everything was created the way it was supposed to be and in good standing. In the beginning, Adam and Eve followed God’s orders and did what was expected of them. Genesis 1-2 showed the good nature of mankind. Genesis 1–2 shows a world where everything was in right relationship. Adam and Eve had right relationship, humans had right relationship with the natural world, and humanity was in right relationship with God. Everything was in harmony. (Grand Canyon University, 2020) Everything was right in the world. Humans were not afraid of animals, nor each other. There was no pain or suffering. It truly was heaven on earth. 2. What are the consequences of the fall for human nature (from Genesis 3)? Your answer in 100-150 words: In Genesis 3 evil is introduced into the world by the serpent. Temptation to not follow God but to follow evil. Once Adam and Eve follow temptation and lied to God, this is what is considered the fall. One of the consequences of the fall was that God and mankind were no longer in a loving relationship but one that was in fear. God was then looked at by Adam as a judge and not a Father. Humans now had a sinful nature, anger and death entered the world as before everyone was immortal. Men were cured to have issues growing food when weeds and thorns started to grow and killed crops. For women God increased pain during childbirth and cursed women to not have authority over men. Another consequence of the fall included strained relationships between man and women, painful childbirth (Genesis 3:16–19 ) 3. 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: I understand after reading “The Mystery of Original Sin” by Marguerite Shuster that God created man to be like Him as He wanted man to think like Him and to have true love for Him. Just has God placed the Tree of Knowledge in the middle of the Garden of Eden, God wants humans to put Him in the center of their life. “God is not a boundary around the edges of our lives, a limit to our abilities that we are always striving to surpass. Nor, we might add, is he the keeper of a boundary imposed by legalists who think we can be changed through an ever more encompassing I set of rules. He belongs in the center.” (Shuster, 2013) 4. How would pantheism or atheism (choose one) view human nature, human purpose, and human flourishing? Your answer in 100-150 words: Atheists believe that a human can flourish without God. That to flourish all you need are resources like food, exercise, intellectual thought through study, interpersonal relationships, meditation/relaxation. Atheist do not believe that life has a purpose but that if they find pleasure in what they do that is all that matters. One thing that gives the most impact in a atheist life is the people that surround them. Atheists believe that knowledge is human nature and it is not disobedient but that the humans are curious for knowledge. It wasn’t disobedience of Adam and Eve that caused the fall of humanity it was humanity learning they can think for themselves. 5. 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: God wanted mankind to be able to make choices and hoped that their choice would lead them back to God. God wants mankind to have God in the center of their life and serve and have true love for God and only God. To have true love, you must make the choice to love and not be forced to love. “True love requires a choice. God created humanity with free will so that we would have the choice to love and serve God or to love and serve ourselves.” 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 upon your selection, research the issue that 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. 1. 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: Counties around the world suffer from poverty and not having the resources for medical care. Mercy Ship has brought medical missionaries all over the world to help with this worldwide problem. The ships visit coastlines because 50% of populations live near a cost and provide a safe, sterile surgical space and treating patients as well as training local doctors on how to serve and help their communities. The ship is a floating hospital and brings hope and healing serving God’s people. Mercy Ships have impacted over $2 million lives, performed over 100,000 surgeries, helped train over 42,000 medical professionals and have annually over 1,300 volunteers. (Mercyship.org, 2020) 2. 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: There are many difficulties that medical missionary’s encounter which trying to help people in need. The first thing that comes to mind is location. Getting to people with medical needs is not very easy. Once the medical team arrives, then finding a sterile place with water and electricity can be hard. This is one of the many obstacles the Mercy Ship has been able to overcome. Another hardship that Mercy Ship has overcome is providing a place for the patient to recover. At every port, Mercy Ship sets up The Hope Center. The center provides a place for the patient and their caregivers a place to stay while they are recovering. It is also in a location that is close to the ship so they patient can follow up with the doctors. Another difficulty that medical missionaries must overcome is working with the local doctors and traditions. It is very important to work closely with traditions and beliefs, so the people trust the missionaries. “Through complex cultural and intellectual negotiations, colonized subjects and their western healers adapted each other’s ontologies of disease, medicine, and healing, resulting in what an upcoming scholar aptly describes as ‘productive misunderstandings’” (Kalusa, 2014) 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. 1. What organizational statement reveals that this organization is operating from a Christian worldview? Your answer in 250-300 words: The Mercy Ship is Christian organization because not only are they serving God’s people by being the hands and feet of Christ, they are also “ Bringing Hope and Healing to the forgotten poor” (mercyship.org 2020) Mercy Ship states that their core value is to follow Jesus’s model to love God, love and serve others, be people of integrity, and to strive for excellence in all that they do. All these things show that Mercy Ship does have a Christian Worldview and doing what God intends for His people to do, love and serve one another. One of the consequences of the fall was human pain, suffering, illness, and death. Mercy Ship is combatting these consequences by providing care to God’s people that might have had no hope from their illness. Many countries are not equipped with medical supplies or knowledge to help their people survive. Mercy Ship not only helps the people in need but also helps set up the country with supplies, training, and equipment to help the communities continue to care for their people once Mercy Ship has left. It is very important that Mercy Ship and the country they are helping build a relationship so that the people trust the medical team but also that both have respect for each other. The early years in Africa most European evangelists would come across as conquistadors out to annihilate local medical beliefs and practices that they dismissed barriers to the evangelization their host communities. (Kalusa, 2014) Missionaries have learned overtime to build relationships and honor the customs of the communities first and then they are able to help and learn from each other. 2. 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: When people have deformities or diseases in poor countries, their communities shun the people and make them outcast. The communities feel there is no hope for them and do not waste their resources or energy to help them. When Mercy Ship arrives, hope is restored in the patient but also the patience family. The patient’s life now can survive not just literally but also welcomed back into their community. Having medical treatments, surgical procedures to remove deformities, is not only life saving but life transformations bring a dignity to the patient and their family. Another illness Mercy Ship helps is patients that have mental illness. This type of illness is also one that is not understood in poor countries as there is not any training or knowledge on how to help mental illness. Mercy Ship provides training for teachers, social workers, police, prison workers and military leaders so they will know how to help people in their community not be abused and marginalized. Long term church leaders and missionaries that stay in the communities that Mercy Ship visits are provided with tools to help support the people and leaders. Mercy Ship not only services the patient, but the community so to help ensure that human dignity is restored.” Mercy Ships Capacity-Building programs identify local needs and work closely with local governments to establish initiatives that make a lasting difference. We leave a legacy that extends for years—and even generations.” (Mercyship.org)