What is a sin?
<
li style="padding-bottom: 18px;">John Wesley defined sin as a willful and intentional
turning away from God's will and a rejection of His love and grace.
- Sin is a condition of the human heart that leads us to
prioritize our own desires and self-interests over the will of God.
- Sin is the root cause of human brokenness and the source of our separation from God.
How do we decide what things to avoid?
Susanna Wesley (1669-1742) on practical Christian living
Questions often arise about specific lifestyle choices ("standards," as they were called at one
time).
College students struggle with deciding what behaviors would weaken their commitment to
living a holy life rather than enhancing that commitment. I have fielded questions such as "Where
in the Bible does it say it's a sin to drink beer?"
I like John Wesley's mother's advice on how Christians can decide what habits
and lifestyle patterns they should avoid or eliminate. Since the Methodist Church was born out of
the ministry of Susanna Wesley's son John, she is often called "the mother of the Methodist
movement." When her son John was 22 years old, she wrote him a letter in which she said:
"Take this rule: whatever weakens your reason, impairs the
tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off your relish of spiritual
things; in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind, that
thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself."
— Susanna Wesley
(Letter, June 8, 1725)
Susanna Wesley painted by an unknown artist (Epworth
Rectory) |
Although John Wesley did believe that all transgressions of divine will need
God's forgiving grace, his working definition of sin was "a willful transgression
of a known law of God" [ more on
Wesley ]
Sin's seat: The heart
Check out the self-examination
questions used in discipleship
groups spawned by John Wesley's Methodist movement.
What do Nazarenes believe about sin?
The official Nazarene doctrinal statement defining sin includes these words: "We
believe that actual or personal sin is a voluntary violation of a known law of God by a morally
responsible person. . . . We believe that personal sin is primarily and essentially a
violation of the law of love and that in relation to Christ, sin may be defined as
unbelief."
— excerpt from the Articles of Faith
of the Church of the Nazarene
Discussion starter questions suggested by a student group discussing how to define
"sin"
- Is murdering someone more of a sin than harboring ill will toward a person and
delighting in their suffering?
- Which is more sinful?
- Committing adultery
- Having lustful thoughts toward someone
- If we claim to keep the Sabbath but do not fellowship with other believers, have we fulfilled
God's wishes?
- Are people who are not able to regularly keep a traditional weekly Sabbath by worshiping on
Sunday with other believers supposed to be classified as transgressors of one of the Ten
Commandments?
John Wesley's criteria for a right heart
John Wesley composed a set of questions to help believers self-evaluate their heart condition.
Here they are:
- Do you believe in God? In His wisdom, power, justice, mercy, and truth? Do you walk
by faith and not by sight?
- Do you believe in Jesus Christ, and are you found in Him?
- Is your faith filled with the energy of love? Has love for God cast out love for the
world?
- Are you doing the will of God with an attitude of "not my will, but Thine be done"?
- Is your heart right toward your neighbor? Do you love your enemies?
- Do you show your love through your works?
Entertainment: Biblically-based moral choices
A spiritually healthy Christian life cannot be built on negatives. However, doesn't saying
"yes" to some things (such as holy living) mean we will be saying "no" to some other things?
The question is: Are we saying "yes" to the right things and "no" to those things that would
damage or obliterate our "yes" choices?
The following material has been adapted from the contents of a publication
by Focus on the Family.
Some years ago, Francis Schaeffer wrote a book titled How Should We Then
Live? The question the book title asks is a good one. If we believe what we say we
believe, then how should we live, particularly as it involves our entertainment choices?
- Do the beliefs I affirm in the Apostles'
Creed impact how I live?
- Is "holiness" something that can
really be lived?
- How do we navigate the entertainment world of our culture with integrity, discernment and
even boldness as a believer?
A good starting point:
How would I feel if Jesus were to physically show up at my dorm room or home? Would I
feel pride or embarrassment at having Jesus see the movies I watch or see my video game
collection?
- What can I watch?
- What can I listen to?
- How do I know what is pleasing to God regarding the media?
Here is some guidance
Is this entertainment choice acceptable?
- Does my choice of music, television program, or movie fit the pattern and/or
requirements of Philippians 4:8 and Psalm 101:3?
- "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is
pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- think about such things." -- Philippians
4:8
- "I will set before my eyes no vile thing." -- Psalm 101:3
- Would Jesus watch or listen to my choices in entertainment? If the answer is "yes," what are
the reasons why I believe this? If the answer is "no," or "I don't think so," what should be my
next course of action?
- How have I determined the standards I presently have regarding entertainment choices?
- Do my standards need to be altered to be more in keeping with the character of Christ?
Is this entertainment choice sending healthy messages to me?
- Are the thoughts and ideas in the music, video, or movie consistently wholesome and
positive?
- Does the song or video promote sex outside marriage, drug use, violent behavior,
rebellion, or anti-Christian messages? Does it assume that one or more of these behaviors is
acceptable?
- Are courage, self-control, and good judgment encouraged?
- Will harmful consequences come out of the words or actions being promoted or
assumed?
- If I were a parent, would I want my children to listen to this song or watch this program
or movie? If not, how would I communicate this to them?
- Has a song, a film, or a television show changed my opinion, influenced my thought life, or
caused me to act in a certain way?
- How can I set and maintain high standards for acceptable entertainment in a world that
seems to be constantly lowering the bar on what is deemed "in-bounds"?
"I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world
any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that
you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it." -- John
17:14-16
Some Nuances of the Word "Sin"
- Moral wrongdoing: Any action or behavior
considered morally wrong or unethical, typically conflicting with societal norms or personal
values.
- Offense against God: A violation of religious
precepts or commandments, seen as a breach of one's relationship with God.
- Iniquity or wickedness: Evil or immoral behavior,
stemming from a corrupt or depraved nature, often associated with deliberate wrongdoing.
- Trespass or transgression: An act of disobedience or
violation of established rules, norms, or boundaries, whether religious, legal, or ethical.
- Guilt or culpability: The sense of wrongdoing or
remorse experienced as a result of violating moral or ethical principles.
More for you on "sin"
What's your level of commitment?
| After an African pastor's
martyrdom, those packing up and disposing of things in his home found a statement he had
written expressing his Christian commitment. [ read more
] |
-- Howard Culbertson,
Recommended links