I recently had the chance to hear a lecture by renowned Christian philosopher J.P. Moreland. In this evening talk, Dr Morland chose to discuss “The Spiritual Life,” and in the course of his lecture, talked about the impact of the Fall on our lives. 

Dr Moreland explained that because of the Fall, we are in a state of separation (from God, from others, and from ourselves) and thus we experience a fundamental loneliness. We look for ways to overcome this loneliness, often with strategies that are sinful. Our corresponding fundamental need is attachment, and God’s deepest way of relating to us is through attachment. Dr Moreland then posed a question: “What are our attachment strategies that are not healthy, that don’t help us become more like Jesus?”

Ouch. My typical strategy for dealing with loneliness is to try to have everything under control – most especially my own future. Although I want to live according to God’s plans for me, I struggle with wanting to know exactly how it all works out, in black and white. In answer to Dr Moreland’s question, then: my (unhealthy) strategy for dealing with loneliness is a rigid self-sufficiency that means that I don’t have to risk disappointment.

Considering all the ways that God has challenged me to grow outside of my comfort zone in the past four and a half years – including, but not limited to, being baptized, going back to school, and writing a book – you would think I’d stop being surprised when He asks me to grow. But this time I thought I had everything figured out, my life planned ahead of me. I had friends; my professional work was sufficient to keep me very busy. Family? Don’t think about it. Loneliness? Under control, thank you very much!

Dr Moreland spoke of a second effect of the Fall: the inception of shame and guilt, with accompanying fear. We ask ourselves, “Will people reject me if they learn I am not as I ought to be?” We need a sense of safety and forgiveness – including forgiving ourselves and no longer punishing ourselves for our failures. How often do I hold back on forgiving myself for my mistakes, even when I am sure that God has forgiven me?

Dr Moreland said that the third effect of the Fall on human nature is a loss of real purpose; left to ourselves, we become bored, and seek various kinds of pleasure to deal our boredom. In my own life, I am rarely bored, but I recognize that if I cling to control over every aspect of my future, then I will not look for God’s real purposes for me – and I will lose sight of Him. Oh! this is a hard thing to face. It means I have to actually, in practice, trust God as I move into a future unknown to me!

Given these three effects of the Fall, Dr Moreland told us, our only hope is to become a full disciple of Jesus Christ. Discipleship, he said, is both hard and easy. It is hard because all new skills are hard at first; it is easy compared to the difficulties of not following Christ. (True, that.) And, he added, “the spiritual life has to start with facing the truth about ourselves.”

What truth do I need to face? It is my fear of disappointment and rejection. This past year I have discovered that there is a grace that God gives when I manage to move forward in trust and hope, persevering even in the face of self-doubt. As I reflect on Dr Moreland’s lecture, I begin to think that God is inviting me to be more of a risk-taker, to trust in Him even when I myself don’t see how things will all work out. That’s difficult for me; perhaps it is difficult for all of us, and that is why God has to remind us that with Him, all things are possible.

 

Further Reading Recommendations:

The Kingdom Triangle by J.P. Moreland

The Lost Virtue of Happiness by J.P. Moreland and Klaus Issler