I listened to this episode of Radiolab this morning and this guy had a type of epilepsy that made him look at child pornography. (that’s simplified but it was a biological cause which increased sexuality and eliminated his ability to resist some impulses).
And I started thinking, how can God judge us on our sins if our sins are functions of broken brain chemistry?!
But then I realized, Christianity is the religion that levels this playing field. We cannot judge others’ actions, and even when we sin, if our hearts are repentant we are cleaned. So if some broken part of our brain is leading us to sin more than most, or in more hideous ways, the Christian God is the one we should hope in most.
C.S. Lewis, of course, stated it very best:
“But if you are a poor creature–poisoned by a wretched up-bringing in some house full of vulgar jealousies and senseless quarrels–saddled, by no choice of your own, with some loathsome sexual perversion–nagged day in and day out by an inferiority complex that makes you snap at your best friends–do not despair. He knows all about it. You are one of the poor whom He blessed. He knows what a wretched machine you are trying to drive. Keep on. Do what you can. One day He will fling it on the scrap-heap and give you a new one. And then you may astonish us all – not least yourself.”
Raw Spoon, 9-5-17
