I hold to the belief that all human beings are born good. This position is known to be contentious, in light of beliefs about Original Sin and other theological ideas, but I think it’s relevant to share where I stand as we further explore the spiritual fruit of Goodness. While I believe that as we are created in the image of God and therefore enter this earth as beings of goodness and rightness, I’ll admit that it’s difficult to reconcile that when I survey the world around me and see a whole lot of bad.
Just taking one sit-down with the local newspaper (or in my case as a millennial, one scroll through various possibly credible news sources online), I’m inundated with broken systems, violence, corruption, and tragedy. Certainly there are a few feel-good stories sprinkled in, that genuinely bring about a blip of feeling that humanity has been restored, but these are sandwiched by bad news about people engaging in bad behaviors that result in bad events.
So where did all the Goodness go that brightens the world with each fresh newborn’s arrival?
I believe we invite and experience Goodness in the act of restoration.
When God worked out his masterpiece of creation, in the form of sky, sea, plants, animals, and human beings, he looked and saw that it was good. The Hebrew word used for good in this passage of Genesis is ṭôḇ (pronounced Tove) , which means “pleasant, agreeable (to the senses), rich, better, happy, kind, benign, and right.” When Goodness ruled the land, during those early days in Eden, the world was marked by beauty, intimacy, and peace. A bit of a different narrative than the current events of today.
But as Paul notes in Galatians 5, when we walk by the Spirit, and are led by the Spirit, our life is marked by the Spirit’s fruit, which includes Goodness. The Holy Spirit does a work of restoration in our lives, via a new birth, and we are re-equipped with Goodness that was always intended.
I wonder if we might consider Goodness to be defined by anything restored back to Eden. While we will not reach complete restoration within this kingdom that is partially ruled by human’s free will, we can continue to partner with the Holy Spirit in shedding light on what can be restored. As we are invited to receive and redistribute Goodness and wholeness to our world, We can pursue engagement with justice, relating to others in humility, and invite God to guide our behaviors and choices toward what he sees as Good.
Isaiah 58: 9-12
“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
The Lord will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
About the Author
Britni is a quiet but fearless spirit who is earnestly seeking the beauty of the redemption that Jesus has personally determined for her life. Committed to the truth that listening breeds understanding and understanding results in compassion, she clings to the power of life’s stories. She has embarked on the venture of discovering her own story and lending an ear to the stories lived out in others and savors the trace of Jesus that is woven throughout them all. Currently, that journey has landed her in a balancing act between the role of wife, momma, and a mental health Care Coordinator.