What is Sin?

Mark Dunagan
07/28/13 - Sunday Morning

What is Sin?

If someone asked you, “What is sin?”, how would you respond?  E.J. Dionne Jr, in The War Against Public Life, remarked, “Liberals and conservatives disagree over what are the most important sins. For conservatives, the sins that matter are personal irresponsibility, the flight from family life, sexual permissiveness, the failure of individuals to work hard. For liberals, the gravest sins are intolerance, a lack of generosity toward the needy, narrow-mindedness toward social and racial minorities”.  Everyone does feel that certain things are “wrong”, and absolutely wrong at that.  While mankind may disagree over the line between right and wrong, everyone does draw a line somewhere.  Even diehard atheists have their own definition of sin. Militant atheist, Richard Dawkins, asserted “It is absolutely safe to say that if you meet somebody who claims not to believe in evolution, that person is ignorant, stupid, or insane (or wicked, but I’d rather not consider that)” Dawkins, R. April 9, 1989. Book Review of Donald Johanson and Maitland Edey's Blueprint. The New York Times. Section 7, 34.

God says in 1 John 3:4 that “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness”

“Everyone”:

The first word in this verse addresses a common temptation — convincing ourselves that a certain thought or act would be sinful for someone else, in different circumstances, yet our situation is somehow different, and God understands why we are lying, losing our temper, cheating or involved in adultery.  Seneca wrote, “Other men's sins are before our eyes; our own are behind our backs”. It is also tempting to think that if enough people practice a certain sin that somehow it becomes acceptable.  Tyron Edwards is correct when he says, “Sin with the multitude, and your responsibility and guilt are as great and as truly personal, as if you alone had done the wrong”.  Being involved in a popular sin, in which many other people engage does not lessen the guilt (Exodus 23:2; Matthew 7:13-14).

“Who Practices”:                                                  

This includes both thoughts and actions, for thoughts can be “practiced” (Matthew 5:28; Mark 7:21).  The term “practices” is very powerful.  First of all, the argument, “I could not help myself” is not going to fly with God, for sin is something that we choose and then, too often, choose to keep on doing.  The word "practice" implies hope, because it indicates action that one can choose to discontinue. It is far easier to admit we were once a sinner, than to acknowledge a sin one is presently enjoying.

“Practices Lawlessness”:

Was Oscar Wilde correct when he said that “There is no sin except stupidity”? Hardly.  At the very heart of sin, is something far more dangerous than not having enough sympathy or patience for someone else.  Sin, by its very nature, is rebellion against our Creator.  David realized this when he noted, “Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, and done what is evil in Thy sight” (Psalm 51:4).  Sin is not sin because it violates the standard of another human being, or because it offends them, rather, it is rebellion against a Divine Standard. Since sin is called "lawlessness" it becomes clear that:

• Sin is Arrogance:

Anytime I sin, I am in effect implying that I am smarter than God.  I am opting to follow my own course (or someone else’s advice) instead of His law.  I am saying that I am going to trust in my own wisdom, or the wisdom of other mortals, rather in His wisdom.  I am saying that I know better (or others know better) than my own Creator, what will make me happy. 

• Sin is Stubbornness:

Instead of following God’s wise and loving course for my life, when I sin, I am charting my own course, I am going my own way, “All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6).  Yet the way we have charted is not unique or new, it is simply nothing more than the old, tired and worn out broad way (Matthew 7:13-14).

• Sin Does Something To Me

There is no way that I, or anyone else, can chart of course of lawlessness and remain the same person.  Even non-Christians can see this.   A Romanian Proverb reads, “Every sin brings its punishment with it”.  Others have said, “Every sin wounds the sinner”, and I also believe we could rightly say that “Every sin changes the sinner”.  The Bible agrees:  “And they having become callous” (Ephesians 4:19). “They followed vanity and became vain” (2 Kings 17:15).  In fact, God often speaks of people having hearts that had become extremely hard.  Psalm 95:8 “Do not harden your hearts”; Proverbs 28:14 “He would hardens his heart”; Zechariah 7:12 “They made their hearts like flint”.

So being able to hear someone speak truth about God without it touching one's heart, is certainly no sign of maturity, courage or knowledge, rather, it is a tragic indication that one has or is dying on the inside.  As German Proverb notes, “Not to be ashamed of sin, is to sin double”.   Thomas Carlyle observed, “The deadliest sin is the consciousness of no sin”. Jeremiah also spoke of such people when he wrote of those who could no longer be ashamed of their selfish actions (6:15; 8:12). 

Warning Signs

• I can listen to the word of God and remain unmoved.
• I can plan to sin even during worship time.
• I feel no need to pray—even when in trouble.
• I can think about Jesus on the cross—and feel nothing.
• When I look back upon my selfish actions—I feel no shame or regret.
• I feel no need to apologize, but instead am perfectly comfortable treating someone rudely, or exploding in anger.
• I am excusing all my past selfish choices with the excuse, “Well I guess that just needed to happen.” or "I regret nothing. If I hadn't sinned, I wouldn't have the advantages I have today."
• I do not think about how a selfish action is going to affect others.
• I feel better when I am around people who do not hold me accountable.
• I am in the process of making up my own standard of goodness, which I can easily attain.
• I determine what is right or wrong in life by what I personally desire to do or not do. 

It is Actually Wrong

S.M Stirling in The Sunrise Lands, wrote, “A sin is wrong not because it makes you feel bad—though it should—but because it is wrong”.  Yet beware of this delusion among mankind— that if enough of us are practicing a sin, if we call a sin something different, and if we practice a sin long enough—then somehow we can wear down the Law or the God behind it.

Sin is Lawlessness

Often the Bible speaks of sin being a “transgression” (Colossians 2:13; Hebrews 2:2).  This means that I do not have a “right” to any sin.  Someone noted that if you talk to men about their “rights” you will create Revolution, but if you talk to them about their responsibilities you end up creating loving families, a strong economy, a free country, law and order, and other beneficial things as schools and hospitals.  I must remember that I dare not think that I have a “right” to enter any territory that God says is forbidden. 

Lawlessness Cannot Be Good

Think about it. What if everyone truly charted their own course?  What if everyone followed their own selfish desires?  It would not be a better world and neither would it bring peace or freedom.  It would be utter chaos and disaster. Yet, if everyone followed the will of the Creator, there would be:

• No need for locks, passwords, or virus protection on your computer.
• Plenty of money and resources to take care of the less fortunate.
• No health care crisis.
• No national security problems.
• No prisons or jails.
• No illegal drug trade.
• No money wasted on gambling.
• No broken homes or domestic violence.
• No terrorism.
• No National Debt.

Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.net
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net