Ask, and most will agree, there is no shortage on sin. Ask for a definition of sin, and few will concur. What some may consider sin may not be considered sin by others. Sin has never been more popular than now as society has become more and more accepting of it. Who is to blame?
Sin is mentioned hundreds of times in the Bible. Romans 3:23 clearly states that all have sinned. But what is sin? How do we know if we are sinning? For many, the Ten Commandments serve as the ultimate standard for living.
Most will agree that if we haven’t met these standards, then we have sinned. Unfortunately, we live in a culture where sin has become a matter of opinion. There are those who would have us believe that what may be wrong for us may not be wrong for them. In their minds, sin is debatable and open to interpretation.
Whether or not something is sin has become entangled in legalistic arguments over right and wrong rather than what the Bible says regarding the matter. For example, the issue of homosexuality has had a lot of publicity of late. Many homosexuals claim that being gay is not a sin. Scripture references condemning homosexuality are often ignored or loosely interpreted in order to justify a sinful lifestyle (see Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13 and Romans 1:26-27).
However, when it comes to sin, our opinion doesn’t matter. What God calls sin is sin. Failing to see sin as God does is foolish. Romans 6:13 provides answers to our struggle with sin. “Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.”
As Christians, we are not called to tolerate or accept sin, but we are called to proclaim forgiveness and freedom from sin as found only through faith in Jesus Christ.
As Baptists, we are big on reaching the world for Christ. In our eagerness, we must remember it is ineffective to share the love of Christ with a sinner when sins of hate, resentment and prejudice are at harbor in our own hearts.
The lost are often blamed for the current state of affairs. Christians often complain when the lost act lost. The real issue is that the body of Christ is failing to act like Christ. The Bible says they will know we are Christians by our love. Jesus summarized the law when he called on us to love God and love others.
The key to healing our nation is not found among the lost but among the Church. As 2 Chronicles 7:14 makes clear, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
The healing we long for will come only when the Church turns from its wicked ways. It is time we point our finger in the mirror and wrap our arms around a world desperate to know His love.
