Sunday Sermons
Predisposed?
Predisposed?
In this lesson I want to examine the question of whether or not individuals are predisposed towards a particular sin. At this point the reader needs to understand that secular scientists do not even agree on the causes of various deviant behaviors, and neither do the individuals participating in such acts agree. In fact, a fair number of are uncomfortable with the claim that what they are doing is purely the result of some biological cause, but if it is largely a biological phenomenon, then what they are doing starts to look less like a preference and more like an illness that needs a cure. If one sin is the result of genetics or some biological predisposition then to be consistent one would have to argue that such is true with every sin, yet most people are unwilling to go this far, because it is very hard to swallow that the murderer was predisposed to kill and thus is not accountable for his or her actions. Remember, God places not only various sins, but acts and attitudes in the same common basket (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Timothy 1:9-10). Seeing that all are condemned, and all can be abandoned, it therefore seems logical to conclude that if one is a choice then all of them are choices. To say that one or two might be predisposed presents the awkward situation of some sinners being at a greater disadvantage when it comes to repentance and salvation.
God created man upright
“Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices” (Ecclesiastes 7:29). Note that the text says that God created men upright. The “uprightness” here is not limited to Adam’s purity in the Garden prior to the fall, but this initial purity applies to men in general. I do not find any predisposition towards any specific sin in the term “upright”. If one is predisposed towards a specific evil then the text should read that God created man less than upright. “Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature” (1 Corinthians 14:20). In addition, if the cause for certain sins is biological, then why are such sins not inherited? (Ezekiel 18:4ff)
The Sinner can change
“Such were some of you” (1 Corinthians 6:11). This clearly indicates that the sinner can stop and forsake his or her particular sin or sins. Notice that the Corinthians were able to stop such sins without any medication, indicating that the root cause was not some biological flaw. Yet at this point some argue that while God expects the sinner to stop the sinful practice, the sinner will always have an predisposition towards fornication, adultery, greed and so on. I have a couple of biblical problems with this claim: First, I find that the Bible teaches that not only must one stop the practice of sin, but equally they must stop the “lust” that leads to the sin. For example, the adulterer is expected to both stop the practice and the lust that leads to the practice (Matthew 5:28). In the same context, Jesus observed that it is not enough to simply remain from acting out one’s anger one must stop being an angry person (“That everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court” Matthew 5:22). Secondly, in the context of 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, we find the terms “coveteous” and “effeminate”. It seems that if one is “predisposed” that God here is requiring the impossible, that is, the greedy or effeminate person must not only stop acting out these attitudes, but they must forsake the attitude itself in order to enter the kingdom of God. Third, the Bible teaches that not only must the practice of sin be forsaken, but there needs to be a complete transformation as well of the inner man (Colossians 3:12; 2 Peter 1:5ff; Galatians 5:22ff; 1 Corinthians 13:4ff; Ephesians 4:31-32). I do not find any room in these passages for the Christian holding on to some attitude (predisposition or orientation) that is contrary to God’s righteousness. Finally, how can one resist the temptation if one is allowed to hang on to the lust that gives into such temptation? If one can never remove a sinful predisposition then how does one ever overcome their sin, for James says, “Each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust” (James 1:14).
The Cause
There are many theories concerning the cause of various deviant behaviors, yet I was reading the Bible recently and noted that God actually does address the true root cause of sin.
Romans 1:21-27
· The cause is not “nature”, “exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural” (1:26). This means that the cause is not genetic or biological, this is not only true concerning homosexuality, but concerning all the sins listed in Romans 1:29-31 as well.
· God does something here that most modern thinkers choose to ignore, that is, He says that the cause of homosexuality among men and women is rooted in the same basic attitude (1:26-27).
· The term “exchanged” (1:26) reveals that sin is a deliberate choice.
· This practice is not just another form of love rather it is “lust” (1:27 “burned in their desire toward one another”).
· This lifestyle is clearly labeled “error” (1:27), and the context reveals that the cause behind this error is a rejection of due reverence towards God (1:21), an abandonment of truth (1:21), wrong thinking, a hardening of the heart (searing of the conscience) (1:21); arrogance (1:22); and the natural consequence, a giving into degrading passions (1:24,26).
1 Timothy 1:9-10
We find the same “cause” here as well. The cause is rebellion against God (1:9), and a refusal to submit to His law. The cause is not genetic or biological, but rather it is rooted in a wrong attitude toward God’s truth.
“But it feels natural”
· First we need to remember that any sin feels natural to the sinner. Paul describes this process when he writes, “Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging in the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:3). Any sin can end up feeling completely “natural” if one indulges in it. In fact, it can seem so natural that sinners are often shocked when one of their own becomes a Christian (“In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excess of dissipation” 1 Peter 4:4). Remember, there were people who felt that offering their children in sacrifice, going to a religious prostitute (or having their wife be one) were completely “normal”.
· Our society makes the mistake of thinking that the sinner is the expert on the cause of his sin, instead, the Bible pictures the sinner as being blind and walking in darkness (“Being darkened in their understanding” Ephesians 4:18), thus the sinner is hardly the final authority on the origin of his or her sinful behavior.
· How “natural” a sin feels depends much upon who is being questioned and when. The longer one and the deeper one goes in sin the more natural it will feel because the conscience is being seared. The Christian who hears about some sinful practice and says “yuk” is actually giving the “natural” response, “Abhor what is evil” (Romans 12:9); “For it is disgraceful to even speak of the things which are done by them in secret” (Ephesians 5:12).
· When the sinner is being interviewed, remember that the sinner often will give an answer that seeks to put them in the most favorable light. Some people who are doing something wrong will seek to justify the existence of the behavior. We see this when Americans are polled concerning their belief in God. Over 90% say they believe in God but we do not see this being practiced in our culture.
· When we hear a sinner saying that what they are doing seems normal or natural to them, let us remember that the Bible does teach that the sinner can sear his or her conscience. “Do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:8); “So that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (3:13); “seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron” (1 Timothy 4:2);”and having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness” (Ephesians 4:19).
Tinkering with the Wiring
Now and then someone says something like, “I do not understand anyone who would want to… their brains must be simply wired differently than mine”. First, from such passages as Ecclesiastes 7:29 it is clear that we are all wired basically the same, but what the above passages reveal is that men and women can rewire themselves. In fact, they can disconnect their entire conscience if they so choose, “Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not ashamed at all; they did not even know how to blush” (Jeremiah 6:15). Observe, they were born with the ability to blush, but they have disconnected this natural response. The good news is that 1 Corinthians 6:11 equally teaches that we can go back to the original configuration as well.
Predisposing myself
· A sinful environment is certainly not helpful in resisting temptation but mere environment is never all-powerful and neither does it make the final choice for us (Ezekiel 18:4ff). Having an angry father may not help but this is never the “all-powerful” determining factor. Regardless of the circumstances, sin is still a choice. Thus, I cannot blame a sin on the fact that someone introduced me to it at a young age (Genesis 39:9).
· People tend to forget that behind any sinner is a lifetime of choices. The Bible warns us against any hardening of the heart(Hebrews 3:8). The truth is that I can make choices that actually will make myself far more vulnerable a particular sin. For example, if I do not work on self control but opt for instant gratification then I will certainly be more vulnerable to such things as fornication, drug addiction, or anything that provides a quick and instant thrill. The same is true if I choose to believe the lie that physical pleasure is what this life is all about or that I have the right to expect sexual pleasure any time and in whatever manner I want.
· Young people need to remember that every choice they make can either be a strengthening of the wall against temptation or making themselves far more “disposed” towards a sin, this is why Solomon exhorted young people to not only remember God (Ecclesiastes 12:1), but equally remove evil from their hearts (11:10 “So remove grief and anger from your heart”). Young people also need to realize that they can start tinkering with the wiring in their heads at a very early age. RememberRomans 1 mentions the sin of being disobedient to parents and Psalm 58:3 “The wicked are estranged from the womb; these who speak lies go astray from birth”. This is why children are admonished to obey their parents and parents are equally commanded to correct their children. Long before one becomes a teenager or young adult, children do face temptation and wrong thinking.
Mark Dunagan/Beaverton Church of Christ/503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net/mdunagan@easystreet.com
