Tuazon, Lorena Y.

BSA – 2A
When man commits sin, who causes him to sin? Is evil within human person or is it outside
human person?
The human person is naturally imperfect. We sin all the time. It is in our nature to
commit mistakes since the beginning of time. This inner force even from Adam and Eve.
Personally though, I wouldn’t say that people are intrinsically good but rather, we can properly
distinguish moral acts from immoral acts. As we reach the right age, we are fully aware of our
own doings. These things we do and the choices we make define the kind of person we would be.
Sometimes we do it without intending to. Sometimes we do it even though we are
perfectly aware that what we’re doing is wrong. People sin to get “something they want”.
Students cheat to get high scores in examinations. Some indulge themselves to alcohol and drugs
to feel high and ecstatic. Some people kill out of anger. People steal for money. Evil outside the
human person drives us to do bad things but mostly, it is within the human person – forces that
make us sin.
Point is, we sin because of our “desires”. Don’t get me wrong, desire can be a good thing;
it can serve as an inner drive/motivation for people: The desire for knowledge, the desire to help
others, the desire for a better life, etc. When not kept in check though, this healthy emotion can
turn into a destructive one.
When desire is driven by our ego, that is when we start to undermine our happiness and
our well-being for wanting something more. It is at this moment that desire becomes harmful not
only to other but also to ourselves. Our ego is limitless. It acts with its own needs and own mind.
When our ego drives our actions, it does so without attention to the costs and consequences we
might face. It only seeks fulfillment, nothing more, nothing less.
Furthermore, another inner force that cause us to sin is our emotions. It is our powerful
feelings and emotions that stimulate the good and evil within us. Our emotions can be marvelous
and wonderful: Love, joy, contentedness, kindness, tenderness etc. But they can also be
devastating and destructive: anger, jealousy, envy, spite, etc. They can be all-consuming and
overwhelming. As people, we are capable either of intense love or bitter hatred. We might be the
master of our own thoughts but we can also be the slave of our own emotions. To not be able to
control them is to let them set loose from the cage that used to contain them. To not be able to
contain them is to set free the negativity which causes us to act on them and ultimately lead us to
sin.
With this in mind, last is our vulnerability. Humans can all feel vulnerable. When we are
vulnerable, we are susceptible to temptation and sin. Tempted by our carnal desires, it is easy to
surrender to discouragement and defeat because it feels so easy to just give in and let it all go.
Hence, we sin.
Let’s have an example. Take this with a grain of salt. Can you blame a man for stealing to
save his dying child? The thing is, not everything is black and white. Sometimes, we’re in a gray
area. We do things we are not proud of. However, take this in mind. Our life is what we make it.
So, we shouldn’t blame others when we screw up. We are always free to choose, but we are not
free from those consequences and yet, we do it anyway. Humans beings can be so complex.
When the Devil/Lucifer committed a sin? Who/what caused him to sin
A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and of course, as long as you’re
looking down, you can’t see something that’s above you.
- C.S. Lewis

Ever heard the phrase “The Devil made me do it “? It is a common phrase to hear from
people to excuse any inappropriate action that may have committed. But that’s just it. An excuse.
Moreover, people today still use a similar excuse for their bad behavior, though they may not use
the same words anymore. Somehow in their minds they believe that Lucifer has power over
them. On the contrary, I don’t believe that. Well, at least not as much. Even though I believe that
outside forces shape a person’s actions. The ultimate force is within us – this inner compulsion
which drives us to do things, our free will. The same goes with the Lucifer. It is not a ‘who’ but
rather, a ‘what’ which caused him to sin.
Lucifer is one of the original Archangels, the highest hierarchy of Angels created by God.
He is considered to be God’s most beautiful creation. Being impressed by his power, beauty, and
intelligence, he wanted to rise above the throne of God. He took a one-third of the Angels and
wage a war of God. And we all know how that it did not went well. Lucifer got a taste of his own
medicine. By this, we understand how powerful the biblical God is. Without God actually being
involved in the battle, Lucifer was defeated and cast out, condemned to hell together with the
other angels who rebelled against God.
Accordingly, as with humans, angels were given free will. Thus, they have access to
emotions. Lucifer was so blinded by his desire for power, the honor and glory that belonged to
the Almighty alone; he wanted not only to be God but to rise even above the latter’s throne. His
arrogance, envy, and pride ultimately lead to his downfall. It is his self-generated pride which
corrupted Lucifer.
This was most evident in Isaiah 14:12, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne
above the stars of God; I will sit on the mount of assembly on the heights of Zaphon; I will
ascend to the tops of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High."
However, as the saying goes, pride goes before a downfall. In a biblical sense, to quote
Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goeth before destruction and haughty spirit before a fall”. Because
Lucifer believed himself to that he is powerful more than he actually is, he set up himself for
failure. He was not modest and thankful for God despite being deemed as latter’s most beautiful
and divine creation. Lucifer threw it in God’s face believing that he was better. All of this led to
Lucifer’s banishment which goes to show us the consequences of such disrespect to those who
came before us can and should be severe.
His pride turned into boast, which turned to arrogance; and therein lies the worst damage
because he perceived himself as “better than others”. This led to his manipulation, lies, and
deceit which cause the other angels to side with him. For wanting more, he got the short end of
the stick.