Just as through one human being sin came into the world, and death came through sin, so death has come to everyone, since everyone has sinned. — Romans 5:12
The old concept of original sin, formulated by Augustine, was that the consequences of the first disobedience in the Garden of Eden was passed on to us. We all naturally rebel against God; we just can’t help ourselves. This is why Jesus came into the world, to reverse things.
While I have trouble with this view, I do firmly believe in another version of original sin. As a parent, I’m afraid I’ve passed on some of my shortcomings to my children. No doubt some of those things were passed on to me by my ancestors. They include hidden/not so hidden prejudices and biases. They include harsh words that may have hurt instead of healed. And they include actions that may not have been in line with what I said I believed.
And I believe that all these things, plus the things and people children encounter in the world as they grow up, add up. Who knows? Maybe somehow they affect the genes we inherit and pass on.
This all makes the gospel much more relevant. We can’t make a better world for future generations while we consciously or unconsciously harm ourselves and others. Jesus’ death reflects the consequence of sin. His Resurrection shows there’s hope. Grace helps us perpetually grow through our mistakes, modeling a world of compassion, justice, and second chances.
Maybe we can imprint a little “original grace” into our DNA.