Born With Pride
The Catholic idea a person is born in sin is often taught as the idea man has an inate pride from his conception. I have read multiple articles over the years describing the concept of original sin, almost always it incorporates a child has pride from the beginning. Some writers even teach a babies cry for milk is a form of self-seeking covetousness that should be considered sin.
Does the bible actually teach this view or would the Bible refute the concept?
Several New Testament verses do refute it.
Mat 18:1 AtG1722 the sameG1565 timeG5610 cameG4334 theG3588 disciplesG3101 unto Jesus,G2424 saying,G3004 WhoG5101 (G686) isG2076 the greatestG3187 inG1722 theG3588 kingdomG932 of heaven?G3772
Mat 18:2 AndG2532 JesusG2424 calledG4341 a little childG3813 unto him, andG2532 setG2476 himG846 inG1722 the midstG3319 of them,G846
Mat 18:3 AndG2532 said,G2036 VerilyG281 I sayG3004 unto you,G5213 ExceptG3362 ye be converted,G4762 andG2532 becomeG1096 asG5613 little children,G3813 ye shall notG3364 enterG1525 intoG1519 theG3588 kingdomG932 of heaven.G3772
Mat 18:4 WhosoeverG3748 thereforeG3767 shall humbleG5013 himselfG1438 asG5613 thisG5124 little child,G3813 the sameG3778 isG2076 greatestG3187 inG1722 theG3588 kingdomG932 of heaven.G3772
Two points can be made.
1. The Apostles who were of some age had to turn back to a state of a child, a state before desiring self promotion. Babies did not have this desire. Thus, they were not born with this type of desire or pride. They developed this later in life. Sin comes with mental development. Even if babies had such a taint it did not preclude them from heaven, it was a state acceptable for entrance into heaven. Nothing in the child was recorded as sin, it was not full blown.
James 1 says desires and temptation becomes sin, a babies desires if any are not considered sin according to James' definition.
2. Since adults had to repent to this state even after baptism, it was not something outside of our power. Paul's statement about his flesh would not prohibit him from reaching this state through repentance. A person can walk humbly as a child.
Jesus teaching requires "Self depression" or "Humbling yourself", an action of self.
Note: this destroys the concept of faith alone, and it was required for the Apostles to enter the kingdom of God. It was not enough to understand the concept, they actually had to convert themselves to becoming as small children. Faith alone was not sufficient.
Except ye be converted is the standard.
The Catholic concept is false and easily disproven.
Another verse disproving the concept of Babes born with inate hatred is
1Co 14:20 Brethren,G80 beG1096 notG3361 childrenG3813 in understanding:G5424 howbeitG235 in maliceG2549 be ye children,G3515 butG1161 in understandingG5424 beG1096 men.G5046
Children did not have an inate malice, this is also developed over time.
Malice is also something God expects us to control as adults. Children have no developed sense of malice, immature Christians may have it but not control it, but mature Christians understand the concept and can work to remove it from their lives.
Whether with pride or malice, both can destroy our position with God if wedo not convert.