In Reply to: Re: Am I a sinner? posted by Joseph on April 10, 2004 at 06:06:00:
definition #3 is, i think, the correct theological position. it is the state of mankind since the fall, "concieved in sin". the reason a savior is needed.
committing sins is what we all do as a result of that "seperation". how sensitive we are to those sins varies a lot, and on many factors, but i think an honest appraisal will usually find both conditions universally, to one degree or another. a cabin in the woods won't fix it, as most monks and hermits testify.
pascal wrote, "man is neither angel, nor beast, and it is unfortunatly the case that anyone trying to act the angel acts the beast." c.s. lewis wrote "that one can hardly say anything bad enough nor good enough about life."
chesterton wanted to know wanted to know why he experienced the world as both good and bad simultaneously. after seeking answers from different faiths he wrote, "christianity was accused , at one and the same time, of being too optimistic about the universe and too pessimistic about the world. the coincidence made me suddenly stand still." although i could not have verbalized it that way, that is essentially the issue, in a much more personal context, that drove me to my knees, and led me to encounter the one of whom it is written, "whom to know is life eternal." still, jesus has a lot more work to do w/ me.