This Thing About Sin

 

This Thing About Sin

1 John 1:8 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1 John 2:1  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”

     My family used to leave Sunday worship and on the way home in our big van I would say, “Did we get past the cross today?”  In other words, was it just the condemnation of sin we spent an hour listening to?  Or did the pastor talk of energizing and the ability to accomplish good works by the power of the Spirit?’

     I didn’t come to church for a whipping.  In fact, I think the man in the pulpit hoards the power this way by falsely bringing a dark shadow over the congregation then sparking the light just at the end of service.  As if those gathered need this man to make them feel bad and then they need him to unburden them.  Is that the great service?  Wretched people!

     I have been married to my wife since 1990.  A man at my job said what advice would I give him for a successful marriage.  Success doesn’t lie in longevity but in intimacy so I told him, “Learn to say sorry a lot.”  I remember screwing up a bunch in those early years, but as we travelled on together, I found out what pushed her hot buttons. What instances would put my Honey in a place where she’d emotionally erupt like an arched cat with tail erect.  I learned to stay away from those places.

     Now, that’s sin.  That is the vulgarity of pornography that incites uncontrolled reaction as we smoke the tires in the ditch of self.  Sin is way off based with God.  It’s like spitting at my wife or slapping her in the face.  He gives us this relationship to show.

     But, I can’t tell you the last time I sinned.  Can’t tell you when I had a knock down drag out with either my wife or God.  I am not above sin.  I am not numb to Him.  On the contrary, I am sensitive as a feather to the breeze.

     Living with my wife and God, I’ve learned not to push their hot buttons.  It gets more subtle than that.  I don’t scream anymore from the ditch of remorse, but listen while on the way.  I even take my eyes off the road and set my vision ahead trusting the rumble bars will warn me.  Even the camber of the road with a high point in the center tells me if I balance left or right.

     On Sunday, what if we came together in health each cruising down the interstate with heads lifted towards the vision?  It would make no sense to hit the brakes and contemplate the ditch.  Why not run?  Run into the worship of Jesus and not into unnecessary sin consciousness.  Why not floor it trusting His Spirit will govern as we let go and pay attention to Him?

     Fire and brimstone may have its place, but the smoke causes us cancer over time.

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