A Gene for Sin?

We know that physical characteristics are inherited genetically. What about behavior? Can our behavior be genetically predisposed? Here is a list of some recent discoveries in this area.

In 2004, scientists discovered a gene that is associated with alcoholism. "A new study links a gene to alcohol addiction -- backing up a long-recognized pattern showing that alcoholism runs in families." (from: http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20040526/researchers-identify-alcoholism-gene)

There appears to be a genetic predisposition towards lying, according to Dr. Charles Raison, a Psychiatrist at Emory University Medical School. "There is a type of extreme lying that does indeed appear to have a strong genetic component. Officially known as "pseudologia fantastica," this condition is characterized by a chronic tendency to spin out outrageous lies, even when no clear benefit to the lying is apparent." (from: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/expert.q.a/01/12/hereditary.lying.raison/index.html)

In 2011 researchers discovered that there is a gene that impacts people's desire to stay in bed longer than other people. "Experts, who studied more than 10,000 people across Europe, found those with the gene ABCC9 need around 30 minutes more sleep per night than those without the gene." (from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15999489)

In 2010, ABC news reported on the discovery of a gene that triggers sexual "cheating" in relationships. "In what is being called a first of its kind study, researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York (SUNY) have discovered that about half of all people have a gene that makes them more vulnerable to promiscuity and cheating." (from: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/scientists-discover-gene-responsible-cheating-promiscuous-sex-habits/story?id=12322891#.UAP87o5s_Do)

Just this year, scientists announced that gluttony is also triggered genetically. "A single gene's effect on the brain can result in non-stop eating, research has shown.

Scientists believe the "gluttony gene" may be responsible for cases of obesity caused by out-of-control appetite." (from: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/gluttony-gene-may-be-behind-big-appetites-7576831.html)

There may also be a gene for violence, stealing, and vandalism. "The same genes that increased a person's likelihood of developing major depression and nicotine addiction were found in those who also had conduct disorder, like stealing, vandalizing, running away from home and fighting." (from: http://news.softpedia.com/news/Smoking-Depression-Violence-Stealing-Put-on-the-Same-Gene-60245.shtml)

So it appears that people who engage in what society would consider to be harmful (and what the Bible would consider to be sinful), have some basis in genetics. This may be surprising to many people, but it shouldn't be. Certainly there is a Biblical basis for even this understanding of human behavior. The Bible talks about how each of us inherit a sin nature that is passed down from Adam. Obviously the biblical writers knew nothing about DNA or genes, but they definitely did know that offspring take on the look (both physically and behaviorally) of their parents.


Michael Mangis, author of "Signature Sins", wrote, "Our families have the greatest influence on our development, including the development of our patterns of sin. Some people even assert that family curses are passed down along generational lines. The belief comes from Old Testament passages which say that God “punishes the children and their children for the sins of the fathers to the third and fourth generation” (Ex 34:7). I will leave that discussion to biblical scholars....Whether or not families inherit spiritual curses, it is obvious that patterns of sin are passed down through families. Everyone sins; but just as culture, ethnicity and gender steer our patterns of sin in particular directions, so do our families....In my work as a therapist, I am amazed at the intricate ways in which family patterns of sin haunt people, even without their knowledge. I have seen individuals have an extramarital affair, only to learn afterwards that a parent had an affair at the same age. Many parents lament that they replicate the unhealthy discipline habits of their own parents, despite all their promises to themselves that they would not repeat their parents’ mistakes." (from: http://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/like-father-like-son-confronting-generational-sins-11602622.html)



Now go back and look at the list of discoveries. We have: addiction (alcoholism), lying, sleeping longer (what the Bible might call being a sluggard), promiscuity, cheating, gluttony, violence, stealing, and vandalism. That's a pretty impressive list of negative characteristics. In fact, if most of us knew of a person who engaged in all these behaviors, we probably would consider that person to be a "bad person". The Bible certainly frowns on all of these and labels them as sinful. And society certainly doesn't think very highly of alcoholism, addiction, lying, cheating, stealing, etc., either. In other words, these are negative, destructive, "bad", sinful behaviors (not physical characteristics, but behaviors) that have a basis in one's genetic makeup.


So what do we do with this as a society? Do we let people steal and then simply say, hey, it's not my fault, I inherited this behavior? Do we see a husband cheat on his wife and then say, you know what, don't blame the guy, it's in his genes? Do we catch a kid cheating on a test and shrug it off, saying, the kid was genetically hard-wired to do that...nothing can be done? No, in each of these cases, even though we now know that there is a genetic predisposition towards these destructive and sinful behavior, we do everything we can to not honor these behaviors, to not encourage them, to not excuse them, but rather to help people to control them and, ultimately, change them. We want liars to become honest people. We want cheaters to become faithful. We want violent people to become peacemakers.


Here's the key: a genetic predisposition towards a behavior that is negative or harmful or sinful does not, in the Bible's view or in society's view, let a person "off the hook", so to speak. We have laws against many of these behaviors, we seek to reform people who engage in them, and we generally discourage them as much as possible. Certainly we don't cater to them or excuse them. We never let a person engage in these behaviors and allow them to simply say, hey, it's not a "choice" or a "lifestyle"...I was made this way.


As an article on the "cheat" gene says (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1334932/The-love-cheat-gene-One-born-unfaithful-claim-scientists.html): "But those with a wandering eye cannot wholly blame their genes. Mr. Garcia, of the State University of New York, said: ‘The study doesn’t let transgressors off the hook. Not everyone with this ­genotype (genetic make-up) will have one-night stands or commit infidelity.’"


Just because someone has a genetically predisposed desire towards some behavior does not mean that they need to act on that desire. They still have choices to make. We all do. We cannot "blame" our poor choices on our genes. We cannot shrug off our behavior and say, "I was made this way." Every moment we face choices. Genes can help explain our desires, but in the end, we can still choose A or B. Let's have a proper understanding of the role of genetics in our moral choices. We can learn a lot about ourselves and others if we have a right perspective.