Over the past couple weeks, I have been pondering very old questions of my faith. Questions that I had before coming to know the Lord. The difficulty is not one of intellectual assent, but of emotional concurrence.

The questions have namely circled around the concept of original sin. As Christians, we agree that each person is hand crafted by God in the womb of his or her mother (ps. 139:13). Yet, each one of these people have some mystical connection to their father Adam. Adam’s sin is imputed into his children

Now, in the process of God forming each one in the womb, he makes no mistakes in permitting this mystical connection. In fact, since there is no governing force outside of God controlling the formation of his creatures, it  must be God creating creatures in, not only his own image, but also the fallen image of their father, Adam.

Many people will become very upset with me at this point. Probably because it sounds as if I’m ascribing evil to God. I’m pretty certain that I’m not.

However, we must be in some web of denial when we affirm the belief in an all powerful, sovereign God, yet somehow claim a force exists that acts outside of his control. Like the spiritual imputation of sin from one generation to another. What kind of twisted logic could we possibly subscribe to that would say God is sovereign, but the imputation of sin happens on its own?

Trouble is, the answer isn’t easily stomached. At least not in the United States, and not in the last 150 years of theological landscaping.

therein lies the up-rise in my questions. The answer is not theologically difficult to grasp. It is emotionally difficult to grasp. In John 11, Jesus has the opportunity to save Lazarus, but chooses to allow him to die instead. This is what he says:

"This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

Lazarus didn’t stay dead, but for the glory of God, Jesus permitted Martha and Mary and Lazarus to suffer deeply. He allowed Lazarus to die. And, if we look farther back into the Old Testament, we find historical events taking place for God’s glory that don’t have such a happy ending.

My spirit cries out when I think about this. It feels like injustice. It feels bad—at least at first.

However, the reality of a situation isn’t usually decided by feelings. Therefore, despite what it may feel like, I must accept that a reality exists regardless of how I feel about it.

As I read, reluctantly, in the book of Mark today, Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane. There he prayed that the death before him could be avoided. Mark 14:35-36:

[Jesus] fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."

Jesus’ prayer here always used to be a little unsettling. Read narrowly and it seems as if he’s saying that he doesn’t want to atone of the sins of the world and that he’s asking for a way out.

I don’t that’s the case.

Jesus acknowledges that God can do anything. He is asking God to remove the guilt of people’s sin in a way other than the one he has chosen. We know what God’s response was. Jesus was crucified, according to plan.

I think that this puts a period at the end of the question about the imputation of sin.

Within the limited scope of understanding we have, God’s commitment to his glory seems to come at a great cost to humanity. But, as Romans 8:28 says, “for those who love God all things work together for good”.

This in mind, as I take the scriptures in faith and believe God at his word, the question begins to change. Perhaps the real question is, what would be the cost of God’s commitment to anything less? Far more devastating, I think.