Over the last ten days there has been a lot of discussion about “Sin” in the media and out in the blogosphere. What there has not been a lot of discussion about is being “Sinful.”
In an obligatory Holy Week piece USA Today has an article on “Has the ‘notion of sin’ been lost?” This caps off a couple of weeks that have seen a governor resign for indiscretions, his replacement admit to his own arguably questionable actions, and the media spin an interview with a Vatican official about modern responsibilities into a list of the “new seven deadly sins.”
But as I read through the USA Today piece I kept thinking that “this is missing the point.” What the article talked about was the view of sin as a list of things we should or should not do. A recent survey by Ellison Research shows that if you put together a list of sins some are roundly accepted on the list (adultery by 81% of Americans, racism by 74%) and some are struggling to be recognized as wrong (only 30% think gambling is). But while it is one thing to come up with lists of specific actions, what the USA Today article dances around is the larger question of what is Sin anyway what about humans as Sinful beings.
There are hints of the larger view in the article. The Rev. Albert Mohler is quoted in part as saying “I wonder whether even some Christian churches are making the connection between Christ’s death and resurrection and victory over sin — the linchpin doctrine of Christianity.” Note that he said “sin” as a singular, a condition or concept. The article just keeps on going with the lists.
Later on the article gets closer with material from Michael Horton:
People have to see themselves as sinners — ultimately alienated from God and unable to save themselves — for Christ’s sacrifice to be essential.
and from Pope Benedict XVI
“People who trust in themselves and in their own merits are, as it were, blinded by their own ‘I,’ and their hearts harden in sin. On the other hand, those who recognize themselves as weak and sinful entrust themselves to God, and from him obtain grace and forgiveness.”
So the measure of sin is not ourselves but God. And our ultimate condition as humans is that we are sinful and unable to save ourselves. It is not about committing sins that are on a list. It is about our Sinful human nature. If sin is only about what society says I should or should not do and I can work on that myself, this weekend is just about jelly beans and chocolate. If we recognize that there is no way we can save ourselves, that we can not even come close to what God requires, that we have violated the image of God in us, and that we can not be saved by our best efforts but by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, then this weekend becomes a joyous spiritual celebration. When it comes to sin and our sinful nature we don’t want “fair,” we need Grace.
So from the Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q. 14. What is sin?
A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.
Q. 16. Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression?
A. The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity; all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him, in his first transgression.
Q. 20. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery?
A. God, having out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace to deliver them out of the estate of
sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a Redeemer.
Q. 25. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest?
A. Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God, and in making continual intercession for us.
Q. 84. What doth every sin deserve?
A. Every sin deserveth God’s wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come.
Q. 85. What doth God require of us, that we may escape his wrath and curse, due to us for sin?
A. To escape the wrath and curse of God, due to us for sin, God requireth of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life, with the diligent use of all the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption.
Thanks be to God for the gift of His Son.
Have a meaningful Easter Weekend.