Christian Religion(C.R.E) Form 1 Notes : CREATION AND THE FALL OF MAN (GENESIS 1-3, 6-9, 11)

CREATION AND THE FALL OF MAN (GENESIS 1-3, 6-9, 11)

INTRODUCTION

In this topic, you will learn about creation and the fall of man. This information is found in Genesis.

BIBLICAL ACCOUNTS OF CREATION AND THEIR MEANINGS

The book of Genesis begins with two creation stories. The first creation story is in Genesis chapter one, and the second creation story is in Genesis chapter two.

The two creation stories

The first creation story is in Genesis chapter one. The second creation story is in Genesis chapter two. The first story is like a song or poem. It includes phrases such as “Let there be…”, “God saw that it was good … to separate,” and “there was evening and morning on …” Each creation is considered a day. The creation took place in the following orderly sequence:

• 1st day – God created day and night (Light and darkness)
• 2nd day – The Heavens (sky)
• 3rd day – The Earth, Water/Sea, Vegetation (plants, trees, grass)
• 4th day – Sun, Moon, and Stars
• 5th day – Birds and Sea Creatures
• 6th day – Animals, Livestock, and Man as the last creation (human beings)
• 7th day – God rested, blessed the 7th day, and made it holy.

In this creation story, God creates things in an orderly manner, day after day until the 6th day.

God created man from dust and breathed into his nostrils before anything else is mentioned. God then placed man in the Garden of Eden, which He had made for him so that man could till and keep it. The garden was planted eastward in Eden. Out of the ground, God made every tree grow. In the middle of the garden was the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Man was given the responsibility of tilling and conserving the garden. Man was commanded to eat from every tree in the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. A river flowed from the garden and then separated into four tributaries. God saw that man should not be alone; hence He made him a helper/mate, a woman from one of the man’s ribs. Man was also given the responsibility of naming all the animals in the garden. There is mention of God resting after work.

Differences between the two creation stories

Similarities between the two accounts of creation

In both creation accounts:

• a) Men and women are created by God and are given special references. Man and woman are special to God.
• b) God rested after creation.
• c) God provided the source of food.
• d) God is portrayed as the sole creator of the universe and everything in it.
• e) Man is given the responsibility of controlling animals, birds, and plants that God created.

Activity

Find out the differences between the two creation stories and write them down. Then compare them with the provided answer.

ATTRIBUTES OF GOD FROM THE BIBLICAL CREATION ACCOUNTS

The creation stories tell us that God is:

1. The sole creator and the only source of life
2. Immortal and eternal
3. Self-existent
4. God of order
5. Source of goodness and true happiness
6. Holy, merciful, and just
7. Provider and sustainer of the universe and all that is in it
8. All-knowing (Omniscient)
9. All-powerful (Omnipotent)
10. Everywhere (Omnipresent)
11. A personal God
12. He has a mind and a will
13. A moral God who is interested in the behavior of man and woman and commands them to do the right things

TRADITIONAL AFRICAN UNDERSTANDING OF CREATION

The traditional African view of creation is expressed through traditional stories of creation (myths). The Agikuyu, Akamba, Gusii, and other Kenyan communities have stories explaining their origin. These stories give each community a sense of belonging and identity and explain the mysteries of life. These stories share common characteristics or teachings.

Thus, all African communities believe that God:

1. Is the chief architect of the world
2. Existed from the very beginning of time
3. Created everything out of nothing
4. Provides for the needs of human beings
5. Was disobeyed by human beings who had lived in eternal bliss, which ended when they disobeyed God
6. Had different names in various communities. God was not known as “God” but as the Creator of everything on earth and in the skies. He was called Mumbi and “Mungai” by the Gikuyu, master of the universe. The Kamba called Him Ngai wa Matu. They believed God continues to create through human beings.

Examples of African creation stories

1. The Kamba believed that God created man and woman and then tossed them to the earth.
2. The Bukusu say that God the creator (Were Khakaba) created the world alone.

a. First, God created heaven, then created two assistants, Mukhaba and Murumwa. Were, the God, made the sun, moon, stars, a big red cock which crows whenever it thunders, the rains, the rainbow, mountains, rivers, lakes, streams, and all other things on earth.

b. Created a woman for the man.

c. Created plants, animals, birds, and other creatures.

d. Creation work took six days. On the seventh day, Were rested.

Activity

Ask your parents about your community’s creation story.

THE TEACHINGS FROM THE BIBLICAL CREATION ACCOUNTS

I. God is responsible for all creation. He is the sole creator. God’s creation was good. Everything He created was good, without flaws or mistakes. God is the provider and created everything man needs, including food for all animals and other creatures. God is orderly.

II. Man has a special place in God’s creation. Man was made as the keeper of God’s creation. Man is a co-creator and keeper of God’s creation since he was made in the image and likeness of God. Man was commanded to work.

III. A woman was made from the man’s flesh. She joins man in marriage, and they become one flesh. God ordains marriage. Human beings were created to socialize.

IV. Sin is a result of man and woman’s disobedience to God.

Responsibilities given to human beings by God in the Genesis stories of creation

After creating man and woman, God asked man to:

1. Reproduce and multiply
2. Rule over the rest of His creations
3. Be in charge of the fish, birds, and all the animals
4. Cultivate the garden and guard it
5. Eat from the fruits of the garden except from the tree of knowledge of good and evil
6. Name the animals
7. Subdue the earth
8. Transform the creation that God has provided human beings with
9. Use creation – forests, rivers, mountains – with responsibility and respect
10. Be a steward of God’s creation
11. Engineer God’s creation by creating things from the creation
12. Dominate the earth

Group work

Work in twos or threes and answer these questions:

1. How does man fulfill the command to subdue and fill the earth?
2. How is man a co-creator with God?

BIBLICAL TEACHING: THE FALL OF MAN, ORIGIN OF SIN, AND THE CONSEQUENCES

Introduction

Man and woman fell from the Garden of Eden. This experience is explained in Genesis chapter 3 verse 4; chapter 6 verse 9; and chapter 11. These verses teach about sin, which caused Adam and Eve to fall.

Sin is defined as iniquity and guilt. It means to miss a mark or to transgress. Sin is a rebellion or offense against God. Sin originated with the disobedience of Adam and Eve. They had been commanded not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil – the tree in the middle of the Garden of Eden. But Adam and Eve ate the fruit after being deceived by the serpent.

Man had the power to resist temptation but instead yielded. Genesis chapter 3 verse 6 states that man wanted to be wise and thought how wonderful it would be to become wise. Hence, sin arises from the lack of knowledge of God and the denial of trust in God.

The consequences of sin

After sinning, we the human race and sinners:

1. Replaced friendship with God with fear of God
2. Lost innocence. What had been innocent and good became shameful. Adam and Eve became ashamed of their nakedness, something they had never felt before they sinned against God.
3. Lost good relationship with God. The good relationship between God and man was broken. Human beings were alienated from God. “The Lord God sent him out of the Garden of Eden…”
4. Damaged the perfect relationship between man and woman. The Lord said to the woman, “You will have desire for your husband, yet you will be subject to him.”
5. Pain became part of human experience. “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbearing.”
6. Man began to toil and struggle to meet his needs. “You will have to work hard and sweat to make the soil produce anything.”
7. The home of man and the earth itself was placed under a curse. “Cursed is the ground because of you.”
8. Enmity between man and wild animals emerged.
9. Man began to die. Death sentence was passed upon all men. “You will return to the ground… you are dust.”
10. Man began to hate. Man developed murderous feelings in his heart; for example, Cain killed Abel, his younger brother.
11. Man changed and became prone to sin.
12. Life span of man was reduced (see Gen. 6:3) “I will not allow people to live forever; they will live no longer than 120 years.”
13. Man’s language was confused by God after the flood (read Gen. 11:7).
14. Sin led to embarrassment, mistrust, suffering, pain, pride, arrogance, and death.

Summary

Disobedience to God by Adam and Eve brought serious consequences of sin to human beings. Sin brings sadness and suffering to man even today.

Activity

In groups of two or three, discuss the origin and consequences of sin.

CONCEPT OF EVIL

Introduction

In this lesson, we will discuss the concept of evil as told by traditional African religion and biblical writings. We will study the similarities and differences of evil from the two perspectives.

What is evil?

In traditional African society, evil was an offense against God, spirits, and ancestors. It was also viewed as an offense against another person or community. Evil was also a misfortune that could befall an individual or a community.

What are the causes of evil?

Many traditional African societies do not associate God with evil. God is not the creator of evil. Some communities believe that evil is an external power that exists on its own. Thus, in traditional African society, evil was understood or explained as something mysterious caused by several people and things. These include:

1. Evil spirits
2. Ancestral spirits – due to disobedience to them
3. Some animals like the chameleon are sources of evil. The Akamba believed that chameleons brought evil. Other communities believed that if an owl cries near one’s homestead, it is a sign of evil.
4. People with mystical powers, for example magic, sorcery, and witchcraft, are sources of evil.
5. If a member of a community breaks a taboo by disobedience, this action may bring evil spirits.
6. The spirits of the dead cause evil if they are not remembered or respected. Evil spirits cause harm and violence.

Consequences of evil in traditional African society

These were many and ranged from:

• Barrenness
• Drought
• Epidemics
• Madness
• Sickness
• Death
• Drowning
• Burning in a house
• War
• Physically and mentally handicapped children
• Rebellious children

GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION

After the fall of man, God took steps to heal the damaged relationship between Him and Adam and Eve.

GOD:

1. Provided clothing of skin to Adam and Eve
2. Looked for Adam and Eve since they were hiding from His presence
3. Provided Adam and Eve with the knowledge to find different foods
4. Declared enmity between man and the snake
5. Hinted at the ultimate victory of man when He said that the seed of the woman would crush the snake or serpent’s head. The serpent would attack the heel of man and woman.

Throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament, we see God’s plan of salvation being manifested. For instance, GOD chose and separated Abraham from other communities. The children of Israel, led by Moses, were delivered from Egypt. God sent prophets to teach and warn the Israelites of the dangers of sin. Finally, God sent His only son Jesus Christ to die on the cross to save humankind.

SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TRADITIONAL AFRICAN VIEW OF EVIL AND BIBLICAL CONCEPT OF SIN

Similarities

Both the Biblical and traditional African views agree that:

1. God is supreme. God is neither the creator nor author of evil.
2. Sin comes from the disobedience of God by human beings.
3. Evil and misfortune are God’s curse to man (Biblical), while traditional African society sees evil as curses by ancestors and elders. Both curses lead to misfortunes.
4. The result of sin and evil is human suffering.
5. Sin and evil lead to man being separated from God.
6. God is the guardian of law and order.
7. Human beings have the ability to overcome evil.

Differences

1. The Biblical account emphasizes the personal nature of sin, while in the African concept, sin is more social and communal.
2. The Biblical account attributes evil to disobedience, while the African concept attributes evil not only to disobedience but also to other external forces.
3. The Biblical accounts offer a message of hope to overcome evil, while the African concept does not offer a solution to sin and evil.
4. The traditional African concept sees all forms of suffering as a result of sin, while in the Bible, suffering is not always a result of sin.

Review questions

1. Explain the differences between the two creation stories.
2. State the traditional African view of creation.
3. Explain how human beings continue with the work of creation.
4. What is the origin of sin and evil according to traditional African society?
5. Give three consequences of sin as stated in Genesis.
6. State the consequences of evil according to African traditional societies.
7. Trace God’s plan of salvation of humankind.
8. Compare biblical and traditional African understanding of evil and sin.
9. What does the command “Subdue the earth” in Genesis 1 verse 28 mean?