The Test Was a Sham

I recently was confronted with an argument from a non-believer concerning the Garden of Eden. I felt that was interesting in and of itself, that we were discussing what I thought they had already ruled out as a fairy tale. The question came up as to God's intentions when He set before Adam and Eve the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Gen 2:16-17
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;
17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
(NIV)

The individual was referencing a blog written by John Loftus. His blog is entitled "Debunking Christianity" and the title of his post was "The Test in the Supposed Garden of Eden Was a Sham" In it he states his contention with God's intentions and the validity or integrity of the "test" as he calls it.

If under the same initial test conditions in the supposed Garden of Eden every human being would fail that test, then either, 1) God created us faulty in some way, or 2) The test was a sham. And since a fair test would mean some of us would not have sinned, then some human beings are being punished in this world for something they never would have done in the first place. This is just one of many problems that keeps me from believing.

Several assumptions have to be made with this argument.

1. If I had been there I wouldn’t have failed the test nor would other “innocent” people who are being unfairly punished

2. God made man faulty and thereby it was impossible to pass the test.

3. God is judging man (all men) because of the sin of one man

4. God’s "test" wasn’t fair – He tricked Adam and Eve

The first one can’t be qualified and thereby speculation doesn’t prove the point – just trying using it in a court of law once and see how that works out.

The second one demands that God makes men with only the ability to do good (and thereby not be able to choose evil). However, that would require that God remove the ability of men to choose freely between good and evil - that would be a sham - I couldn't choose at all.

The last two are false assumptions and do not reflect an accurate picture of what the Bible clearly teaches. The Bible clearly shows that it is our own personal sin that separates us from a Holy God – it is our choices and our selfishness. We are part of the “evil” that we want God to rid the world of. Romans chapters 1-3 give a thorough treatment on the subject. Also to say the test wasn’t fair or that they were tricked is a very shallow argument. God had made it clear and had given them everything else they needed to make the right good choice (we do the same – today). One writer put it this way

“After all, the bar seems pretty low. Beautiful garden. Good looking spouse. Having every earthly need met. This all looks like a pretty good gig. God simply asked the couple to leave one tree alone and to eat whatever they want from any other. Of course, you could complain about the clever, talking snake but that wouldn’t help you anymore than it helped Adam or Eve. So here was the deal: Leave the tree alone. That’s it. Leave it alone and everything goes on without an issue, but touch it and die. That doesn’t sound so hard. Yet evidently it was hard and the Bible says that you and I would do no better. How can we prove this? In one sense, we can’t. We can’t take a test that’s never offered nor will ever be offered to us. In another sense, we prove it everyday – as each of us harbor nasty habits that always rebels against some authority. Speed Limit, anyone?”

Notice also that God also gives a picture of redemption and hope once the consequences had be enacted.

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." (NIV)

Who was it that would “crush the serpent’s head”? Clearly referring to Christ’s atonement for our sins. If anything in this isn’t’ fair it is that - Christ paying the price for the penalty I deserve. I make the bad choices – I deserve the consequences of those choices but God offers forgiveness even though I don’t deserve them – that is Grace and Mercy and that isn’t fair – I don’t deserve that.