Introduction
Criminological theories discuss the root causes and rationale for deviant behavior, but none can explain criminality fully. It can consequently be inferred that some middle ground or different outlook addresses the problem completely. Biblical scholars suggest the Bible be that alternative perspective. According to Scripture, sin nature and original sin (New American Standard Bible, 1971/2020, Gen. 3) are the basic cause of criminal behavior in humankind. Sin nature, also referred to as the total depravity of man, is not mentioned in Scripture but emphatically developed in the Apostles’ writings (Rom. 3-8; Eph. 2:3; 1 Jn. 1:8-10). This Biblical position paper addresses sin’s nature, its effects, how humankind acquires and overcomes it, and its role in criminality.
Description of Sin Nature
The term “sin nature” has roots in original sin in the Garden of Eden. Understanding sin’s nature requires first establishing the concept of original sin. Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command by eating the forbidden fruit, prompting the Lord to deliver judgment. As punishment for their sin, they were to vacate the Garden, till the land for food, and eventually die (Gen. 3:14-19). They lost their original holiness, and the punishment had long-term consequences for future generations. Therefore, sinful nature denotes that humankind has lost its initial righteousness and love for God due to the fall. It is the aspect that makes humankind rebel against God. Our moral brokenness makes us naturally attracted to sin.
Apostle Paul emphatically discusses sin’s nature in his letters. In the Epistle to the Romans, he provides the clearest depiction of the concept of humankind. Paul says, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind because all sinned” (Rom. 5:12). Because of the sin of Adam and Eve, humankind is “by nature children of wrath” (Eph. 2:3) – the nature of its being. David, in Psalms 51:5, also addresses the concept. He says, “Behold, I was brought forth in guilt, and sin, my mother conceived me.” David considers himself a sinful child brought into the world by sinful parents. He acknowledges that his nature would make him sin and fail to live up to the glory of God.
The prevalence of sinful nature in the world is emphasized by the great effort it takes to teach individuals to tell the truth as compared to the ease with which they lie. Sin forms the backbone of humankind’s being; hence Paul mentions a “sinful flesh” (Rom. 8:3). Sin nature affects every individual, and no one can claim to be without sin. John bluntly affirms this by saying, “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 Jn. 1:8). The only individual to have never possessed sinful nature in the entire human history was Jesus Christ.
How Humankind Acquires Sin Nature
Even though others would argue against the possibility of passing moral character from one generation to the next, this is exactly how humankind acquires sinful nature. Adam and Eve, while possessing free will, abused their freedom and sinned. The entire human race inherited their sinful nature and death – the consequence of their sins (Rom. 6:23). Being the father of the whole of humankind, Adam committed the entire race to a particular kind of action. Since individuals follow in his footsteps, they are born into a history heading in a particular direction. Genesis 8:21 reads “The intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth” to affirm humankind’s unrighteousness from birth. The term “youth” as employed in this verse denotes a young man but also infancy and childhood.
The transmission of sinful nature occurs through a human father’s intervention. A child receives the original sin only when the conception involves a human male. This explains why Jesus is the only individual to have never possessed a sinful nature. Christ’s birth involved a miraculous virginal conception engineered by the power of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 1:18-25). He also managed to live a life of absolute perfection without sin. The modes of conception emphasized in this context are natural and artificial.
Overcoming Sin Nature
Despite humankind’s sinful nature, God cannot let it flounder in a depraved state. God established a means for restoring the human race to him. Thus, individuals can only overcome sinful nature with the assistance of the divine. Paul writes, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Eph. 2:4-5). In Adam, individuals inherited a sinful nature, but through Christ, they acquired a new nature. The Apostle affirms, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Cor. 5:17). Christ is to reconcile and repair the broken relationship between God and his people in the new creation.
Christ provides salvation, but humankind does not lose its sinful nature even then. During their stay in this world, individuals will continue struggling with their sinful nature. Paul honestly speaks of his continuous struggle with sin even after abandoning his old self (Rom.7:15-25). However, he is hopeful that Christ will release him from the suffering. God’s Spirit resides in believers, providing the power to overcome the sinful nature that constantly drags them away from him. “No one who has been born of God practices sin, because His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin continually, because he has been born of God” (1 Jn. 3:9). God’s wish is for humans to be sanctified when they encounter Christ.
Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross secured a victory for believers against their depraved state. Christ satisfied the wrath of God to provide a choice for Christians. 1 Peter 2:24 asserts, “He brought our sins in His body up on the cross so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by His wounds, you were healed.” As he resurrected, Christ provided life to individuals imprisoned by their sinful nature. The born-again believers are told to consider themselves dead to evil and living in Christ.
Effects of Sin Nature
Sin’s nature darkens and weakens the mind, impairing an individual’s thinking. A morally impaired individual will often reject the glory of God. They would rather choose an evil that benefits them the most among the two. Their choices will be based on the world’s standards rather than God’s. Paul writes in Romans 8:7: “The mindset on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so.” Rejecting God is as good as abandoning the chance for salvation and eternal life. Such a choice ultimately leads to an individual’s desolate end.
Sin nature, or humankind’s total depravity, states that people cannot avoid sinning due to their corrupt nature. Individuals intending to sin can misuse the concept to release themselves from responsibility. Even though they will be wrong, these individuals will use the doctrine as an excuse and engage in evil without remorse. Some might even surprisingly blame God for allowing sinful nature to be transmitted to Adam’s descendants. However, they would forget that they possess free will and that only they can be held responsible for their actions.
Sin nature renders it difficult for individuals to respond to the gospel invitation. In Revelation 3:20, God instructs, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and will dine with him, and he with me.” He is inviting humankind to know him and have a relationship. But sinful nature suggests that man’s ability to do good is limited; thus, knowing God becomes complicated. Finally, in public life, sinful nature will create many problems. The degenerative consequences of sin will be felt in every individual and institution. For instance, there will be a certain level of skepticism regarding policies as to their effectiveness since sin has already tainted everybody’s nature.
Role of Sin Nature in Criminal Behavior
Crime is rooted in the sinful nature of human beings. Even though God provides, humankind desires more, leading to criminal acts to achieve self-actualization. Individuals’ inclination toward evil and their desire for more than God provides pushes them to break the rules. God has installed governments on earth and instructed his people to be good subjects under such governments (Rom. 13:1-2). Just like in the garden, individuals desire more than the government provides. Failure to obey the laws of these governing authorities warrants unpleasant consequences. However, individuals engaging in criminal acts are barely deterred by these laws.
In the aftermath of the fall, God removed himself from humankind. Initially, he loved their company and walked with them in the Garden (Gen. 3:8). With God gone after their sin, humankind’s only alternative was interacting with one another, including through criminality. Because of their sinful nature, individuals developed greed and the willingness to go to great lengths to satisfy their desires. In the process, they harm others, leading to criminal behavior as defined by the laws of various governing authorities.
Conclusion
Crime is rooted in humankind’s sinful nature which traces back to the original sin in the Garden of Eden. Scripture and especially the doctrine of sinful nature are the only frameworks that fully explain criminality. Humankind shares in the consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden. The sinful nature denotes that individuals are so corrupt in the flesh that they are naturally inclined to evil. The sinful nature of Adam is transmitted from a father to a child during conception, hence its absence in Christ. Despite humankind’s corrupted nature, there is hope and redemption through Jesus. On the cross, Jesus secured salvation from sinful nature that pushes believers away from God. Sin’s nature affects one’s thinking and ability to recognize God’s glory and makes it difficult to respond to God’s gospel invitation. The doctrine also leads to criminality as individuals’ depraved states desire more than God and earthly governments can provide.
Reference
New American Standard Bible. (2020). NASB Online. Web.