Is sin a result of human beings' estrangement from God?
Or is human beings' estrangement from God the result of sin?
I believe that God is literally that thing that we call "love". So, let me take a stab at a Parable.
One Xmas tree light is angry, because another xmas tree light is in the string with him. The 1st is surely better than the other light, so he decides to make himself a little taller.
As a result, his light goes out, while the other's light stays just as bright. He is ANGERED! and tells the other light how terrible he is, how the stringer of lights is going to pluck him out, and crush him like a bug.
However, the stringer of the lights comes along, and says, "huh. One of the bulbs is out." He almost throws it away, but notices that it is just out of it's spot. He puts it back in, and it lights again.
The 1st bulb, humbled, and realizing that not until everyone works together, will he light.
God is the electricity, and if we cut ourselves off from God, from love, then we go off thinking that we are right, but are lonely, unhappy, sad. When we reach out to others in love, we connect to each other. When we cooperate with others, we are given cooperation. When we forgive others, they have mercy on us. When we act generous to others, the act generously in turn.
However, man thinks that "the one who dies with the most toys wins." The one who wins the game, and says, "in your face" is the bigger man. This means one must ask selfishly, must ignore the needs of others, must accuse the needy of being thieves. To do all of this, one must quiet the inner voice inside that says, "You know, you shouldn't have done that." That voice, in my opinion is God. Then, you must believe that God is past the Milky Way, that he is an old grandpa that falls asleep mid sentence, so he doesn't see the way you act selfishly, the way you neglect your neighbor, they way you worship money and material. The Sheep and the Goats? That doesn't apply to you. Point to the sins of others, and you will look less guilty!
And so, people create an environment where they believe that God is outside of them, not a part of them, even when asking God into their heart. If you say, "God told me..." they will answer, "I'VE NEVER HEARD GOD! WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?", questioning you for hearing God, and not themselves for not. They will accuse you of blasphemy for stating that you don't know where you end and God begins, when they don't sense God within them. They will point fingers of accusation at you for having answered prayers, claiming that they have never had any answered, and yet, claim to be a superior Christian.
Yet, they seem angry, haughty, proud, snarky. They have nothing to add to conversation but look for an opportunity to insult, to mock, to hate.
In Buddhism, it's called Karma. Lie to people, and they will think you a liar, and not trust you. You create that.
In Christianity, as in Buddhism, you have to follow an illogical path for enlightenment, to enter the Kingdom. You have to give without expecting something in return. You have to return curse with blessing. You have to love your enemies.
This is a very radical life from what modern society suggests, of getting even, of getting from others instead of giving. And that is probably why there are so many problems in the world, because until we start working together, as one string of lights, on family, we work against each other, and live in a terrible world. However, if we live and act in love, we sense God, are born of God, and know God,
However, when we do, we expose the darkness in others, so in a desparate attempt to hold onto it, one will be accused in the only way that Man knows - with envy, with deceit, with arrogance, with haughtiness, with anger. And all you can do is to remember that they are a child of God as well, and love them as God loved you, that they will shed themselves of their selfish ways, and join the rest of us.
