Is 'Lust' Part of God's Design?
In this solo theological reflection, Nick Stumbo examines Genesis 3 to explore the nature of desire and lust before the Fall. He observes that Adam and Eve, while living in a sin‑free garden, experienced a strong desire for the one tree God declared “not good for you.” Stumbo argues that this pre‑fall desire indicates that the capacity for strong longing—what we often label “lust”—is embedded in God’s created order. He distinguishes the raw desire itself from sinful action, suggesting that desire can serve good purposes such as fostering connection, belonging, responsibility, and stewardship. While desire may lead people to covet what isn’t theirs, the desire itself is not inherently sinful. This perspective challenges common upbringing that equates strong desire with moral failure, proposing instead that desire has a legitimate, God‑intended function that can be directed toward good when exercised responsibly.
