Cross Balance

One Creation

The book of Genesis states that God created us man and woman;
that we chose to put ourselves first before God;
and that as a result we lost our perfect personalities in a perfect world.
The story and symbolism of the Garden of Eden covers all the faculties:
God spoke; Eve saw; Adam ate;
both knew more than was good for them - good and evil.
As a result the image of God in which we have been made has been tarnished,
and we all live in a world full of strengths and weaknesses
that have coloured us sometimes bright,
but usually dull and murky.

Love shown
(God creates man and has his best interests at heart)

Freedom of choice
(“you are free to eat…”)

Obedience required
(“but you must not eat….because….”)

Truth stated
(“if you do know both good and evil , you will die”)

Trust needed  
(that God does know best)

Doubt sown
(by evil, personified as the snake)

Lie and deceit made
(“you won’t die! –God just doesn’t want you to know as much as he does!”)

Jealously encouraged
(“why should God know more?”)

Curiosity generated and temptation laid
(“if I do eat, I will know as much - what would I know?)

Choice exercised
(“I will eat”)

Knowledge of evil gained  
(“aargh!”)

More selfishness shown
(Adam didn’t stop Eve)

Fear, anger, loneliness and all other weaknesses
enter into our personalities.

The next pages show how the spiritual and moral relate to our temperaments.