Plumb the Depths

I believe God could have created us incapable of sinning. We would be an earth full of automatons, moving about doing simply as we were programmed, offering to God our praise based on our firmware, receiving from God the bounty of his love without real appreciation for what it is or its value.

We should remember that in addition to creating us humans, God also created the angels. They too were given the ability to choose for themselves whether they would obey God. Some did not. But those that chose to obey God have apparently done so in a fashion that permits them to exist in the presence of the Holy God.

Is God capable of creating a being that is Holy, like himself? That's an interesting question ... I do not know the answer to that. Normally, warning bells go off in my head whenever I start to think there is something God can't do. But impression is that God's Holiness is unique in all existence. Is this a case where were God to create another who is equally Holy that it would invalidate his very nature? I don't really know.

Given that God also created the angels, and like us they were granted the opportunity to obey or not, it appears that "free will" -- however one wishes to view that phrase -- is part of his plan. I believe the reason for that is because it permits us to experience God's love in the most beneficial manner -- by freely choosing it. But I don't know if there's Biblical support for that reasoning.

Now, on to your main question [which you posted in bold italic, which you do not normally do, so I know it's really, really important :-) ] -- does God feel responsible for our sin? In the back of my mind this thought is floating around ... for God to "feel bad" about our behavior, or to regret it and feel some portion of responsibility, would suggest God admitting he had made a mistake. Given God's perfect and Holy nature, he is incapable of making a mistake. Also, our behavior is the object of his Holy wrath -- perfect and just wrath -- and that wouldn't make any sense for him to direct his wrath against behavior he himself feels responsible for creating. (Well, it would make sense if we diminished his Holy nature, but doing so causes the whole structure of faith to crumble.)

So I would answer, "no." He does not in any way feel responsible for our behavior. He created us with the free will to obey or not; we chose to disobey and in ever increasing measure. That God has provided a way for us to once again come back into his presence -- through the shed blood of his Son, Jesus the Christ -- shows the immense mercy and selfless love of God.

I am off to Minneapolis!