Two philosophical paradigms exist in scripture that seem to be exact opposites. For example, in the same chapter of Psalms, David declares that he was born in sin and shaped in iniquity AND fearfully and wonderfully made. How can both of these statements be true? The same thing happens in the New Testament with Paul. In one place he laments that the things he wants to do he never does and the things he doesn't want to do, he does the most. Later, he speaks of beholding the glory of God when he looks in the mirror and counts it not robbery to be equal with God. Even Jesus, Himself, seemingly exhibits this dichotomy when in one setting, when someone calls Him "good," He stops them and says, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except the Father." Two chapters later, He proclaims that if the people don't praise Him, the very rocks will cry out.

At some point, there must be a graduation from this bi-polar insanity that leads us to believe we are two different people, holy and worthy and made in God's image, while at the same time, unworthy, lowly wretches in need of salvation. This entire consciousness of duality began in the Garden of Eden, which is also a metaphor for what goes on in our minds each and every day. The Garden, in fact, is our mind - the place where we connect with God. The only law present in the garden was that we not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil. Until that tree was eaten of, God communicated perfectly with Adam and Eve in their naked state and there was no shame and no guilt and no law. It was only after they had eaten of this knowledge that they felt the need to cover themselves. There was no law against being naked and being naked was not a sin, but after they ate of the tree, they KNEW they were naked and they hid from God among the trees in the garden.

The problem was not that they were naked, but their own judgment of the fact that they were naked. It's not what you do, it's how you judge what you do. Sin consciousness comes as a result of how we perceive, see, define, label and then judge things. Good and evil have nothing to do with a set "biblical" definition of sin. The only way you can find out whether or not you are living as you should is to ask yourself the questions, "Is this working for me? And, "how is this affecting others around me?" If eating, drinking, smoking, seeing, or doing ANYTHING is producing negativity in your life, then the question is not whether or not it's a "sin" - the question becomes, "how do I navigate my journey in the most positive way for myself and those around me?" It's not about "sin" - it's about sowing and reaping. What is the fruit of this action in my life?

As soon as we take the label "sin" off the things we were taught are sinful and instead start asking, "How is this working in my experience?" we will achieve the graduation from living in the flesh; under the law to living and moving in the Spirit, being clothed in God's righteousness as we were originally created. These two paradigms are the voices that speak to our minds constantly, and every day we make the choice which one we will listen to and follow.