Sin Forth - The Choice to Sin
Christians Believe One Should Confess Sin And Be Redeemed; God Expec
As followers of Jesus, Christians feel they have an obligation and an opportunity to decide their actions in life with sin in mind. They believe they should keep following Jesus and they have a choice: to sin or not to sin. And that is indeed the question.
The Sin of Ignoring the Other
Many would argue that nothing can be more irritating than being ignored - to have another turn his or her back on you, essentially pretending, if only in the moment, that you don't exist.
Perhaps worse, people make assumptions about others. Greg Carey, Ph.D., says: "So easily we evaluate others' worth with no real appreciation for their stories, their histories, and their struggles. So easily we encounter people whom society has pushed to the margins, and we assume they lack power or agency."
Dr. Carey's profound comment is a reminder that every person is valuable in God's eyes and that each person is just that - another person among the many. True followers of Jesus - genuine disciples - are charged to remember this at every encounter.
Confessing the Failure to Experience God's Best
Knowing where one went wrong helps. Confession of wrongdoing and experiencing the forgiveness that can come with it can be a fulfilling experience in the human endeavor.
Some wonder, "Is there anything worse than the hypocrisy of insincere repentance?" The consequences of sin are such that escape is impossible (ultimately) and the human tendency to repeat past sins is frustrating at worst and entertaining at best. In short: folks are going to sin, and they have to "deal with it."
Examining Faith in the Midst of Self-Destruction
James Luther Adams writes, "All sin is self-destructive ... the wrath of God is in the sin itself, which carries the seeds of its own death and meaninglessness." So sin is something that God evidently allows one to do to self. The punishment probably fits the crime because one takes part in the creation of the consequence. Is there a way out of the self-destruction? Yes, providing one acts on principle, and this is where one's belief system is prominent.
Most religions, in and of themselves, lack a distinct set of principles to follow in this regard. While Jesus taught certain principles in the Sermon on the Mount, but one must develop one's own set of principles to follow if one is to successfully follow him.
Bound to Fall But Determined to Rise Again
Everyone falls. Getting back up is the challenge. After so many falls, rising to life again becomes exhausting. Old bones, both physical and spiritual, creak.
But Christ has the answer for the Christians who subscribe to the belief. Jesus said, "Drink from it, all of you. For this is my blood that establishes the covenant; it is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26: 27b-28)
Therefore, many Christians believe that wherever you go and whatever you do, you will have choices. The choices mold character and determine destiny, so sin forth; God is waiting.
Sources:
- Adams, James Luther. An Examined Faith: Social Context and Religious Commitment. Boston: Beacon Press, 1991.
- Carey, Greg. Sinners: Jesus and His Earliest Followers. Waco: Baylor University Press, 2009.
- Holy Bible. Holman Christian Standard Bible. Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 1999.
Choices - And Sins - Mold Character, Destiny
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