This has been edited for clarification:The more people I get to know, the curiouser and curiouser I get as to what folks constitute as Sin.
When I gave myself over to Jesus as a ten year old I began to watch and listen to everything that went on around me. I can remember doing things as a ten or eleven year old because I felt in some way that was what Jesus wanted me to do.
Unfortunately that wore off over time as I became a little more hard hearted due to some of the nonsense that went on in the supposed "Christian" pre-youth group at our church.
Only a small handful of those "holy" kids who sat front and center third row just to impress the congregation and visiting pastors are regular church attendees today.
I was always an extra-sensitive kid and it bothered me to no end that the kids who got up to testify after church camp who received all the amens from the congregation were also the wild ones the minute church was over.
No wonder the world has so much trouble believing that what we have is real.
We let our kids get away with being hypocrites from the very beginning of their conversion.
I am guilty too.
I really didn't mean to write all this at the beginning, it just happened to flow from my fingers as I began to type.
MY QUESTION PERTAINS TO SIN
I HAVE HEARD AND READ THE BIBLICAL DEFINITIONS OF SIN
WHY IS SOMETHING I WOULD CONSIDER SIN SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT NOT CONSIDER SIN AND VERSE VISA. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES:
Why is listening to rock music a sin for some of us but not to others?
Why do some of us agree that alcohol in any form is a sin but some of us drink on a regular basis?
Why is it OK for a Christian to sheeplishly admit that "Desperate Housewives" is their ONE guilty pleasure?
There seems to be some UNEVENESS in our separate viewpoints of sin.
I HAVE SOME THOUGHTS AS TO THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION BUT WOULD TRULY SURELY ADORINGLY LOVE MORE OPINIONS ETC.
THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE KJV, AND THE LETTER Q.
15 comments:
You posed too many questions for me to even try and actually answer them or give my opinion to each one, but I think you were throwing them out there as food for thought. Your questions made me think about the overall meaning of sin.
In my opinion, sin is going directly and purposely against what you know is right.
I do not waste time judging other people's sin. I feel that is God's job, not mine.
JD, that helps me focus on the real question I had.
If there is something that you think is a sin but I don't, then am I wrong?
Sin is falling short of the glory of God. There is no difference to God as we would judge it. The sin issue has been settled by the sacrifice of Jesus. Don't insult God by trying to pay for a free gift of Grace.I think that is a weapon of the enemy."Harry's sin is so much more than Mary's. That is between God and Harry and God and Mary. If you think you are in sin that is because you are a sinner, not because you sin. Do you understand? If God is dealing with you about a behavior problem listen to Him and don't try to excuse your shortfalling. Admit you are a sinner, accept Grace,be transformed by the renewing of your mind, walk in the kingdom of God.
Mr. Ted, That's not the point I was trying to make or question I was asking.
I'm not having a behavior problem that I'm worried about.
I know I'm a sinner and I sin.
That's a moot point.
I also know that Mary's sin is between her and God.
So I should just listen to my conscience via the Holy Spirit about what is Sin in my life and leave everybody else the hell alone?
My wife and daughters I should just let God deal with?
The kids at the beginning of my post were left alone and left to God which was the popular sentiment of the 70's and I see what has happened to them.
What about family and friends who are on the verge of spiritual death?
Pray for them and let God deal with them I go on my merry way.
As a Christian,your definition of sin isn't based on personal opinion, but on the Word of God.
The Bible doesn't talk about rock music or TV programs, but it does tell us what to meditate on and fill our minds with.
The Bible doesn't say, "Don't drink alcohol" but it does say "Don't be drunk"; "Be filled with the Spirit".
Everything needs to be viewed as either within or outside of God's moral framework.
Measure yourself by God's yardstick. We all come up short. Yes, we are all sinners and we all sin. But beyond plain old "sin nature", there are sins of omission (not doing what is moral) and sins of comission (doing what is immoral).
The Word of God is the best guide.
(As to dealing with others or leaving them alone, we are all to exhort one another to love and good deeds.)
ANP you silly goose, I have to confess here that I don't pray for your sins.
I've got plenty of my own to worry about.
I wasn't spouting off, I was speaking in hyperbole to make a point. That may be spouting off, I don't know.
When I said family and friends I was trying to get the reader to also think of their family and friends, not mine....
My family and friends are all perfect! because they are mine and I said so, that's why..!!!
I knew that Seeker would straighten me out...
ANP, I think I know you? Your initials look familiar....
Well nobody should be commenting on your opinion on my blog cause I will hunt them down and hound them for 3 minutes or until I get tired, whichever comes first.
Seeker and Ted: Whoa! Excellent Biblical advice. I'd add my two cents worth if I had time (it would sound a lot like yours).
Maybe later.
okay thanks everybody
I think seeker answered the question I was asking in the way that made more sense to me.
my question seemed to be lost in all the other stuff on the post..
kudos to ANP
I was going to say what Seeker said but maybe not quite so eloquently. hehe.
The Bible should be your guide. Not People. Not society. Not popular opinion and certainly not your feelings. (Didn't I die to that "old man"?)
*Many* discard the parts of the Word that they don't feel like doing.
The Bible does say plainly Jer 17:9 that "The heart is deceitful and wicked. Who can know it?" (Emma Paraphrased) You cannot go by your feelings but by the Word.
Everyone judges. Period. You don't think so? Are you making a judgement about my comments? See?
BUT it's what I do with that knowledge is where rubber meets the road.
In my opinion, Phil 4:8 also gives us the guide to things not specifically addressed, "Finally brethren whatsoever things are true. whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any virtue and if there be any praise think on these things."
There is my tw....twenty cents.
Hmmm.... what should I say? I'm afraid to admit that I wasn't here sooner when you posted this.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil." NKJV
Matthew 22:37-40 "Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." NKJV
"on these two things HANG ALL the Law and the Prophets."
John 14:15-16 "If you love Me, keep My commandments." NKJV
Sin is sin is sin is sin. No matter if it’s adultery, murder, telling a lie. “…keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1:27 NKJV
What does that mean? Sounds pretty clear.
I teach my kids we do what we do because God’s Word is our guide to heaven and when He says something we do it (or don’t do it) and it’s ALL BECAUSE WE LOVE HIM and want to please Him. Have you ever seen the joy in a child’s face when he/she knows their parents are pleased with them?
I’m not going to say that watching a particular program is sin – but anyone in their proper understanding of what is pleasing to God knows these things. If we think really hard, we do things because it is pleasing to US and NEVER consider another. I teach my kids we are last and to always consider another before ourselves – in ALL things.
Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice , holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” NKJV
Have people forgotten the phrase “What would Jesus do?” If we could physically SEE Him right next to us – would we do what we’re doing?
So…. How much do we love Him? How much do we love our neighbor? Enough to give up what pleases us in order to shine the Light? Even if we don’t believe what we do is wrong, we should consider our brothers and sisters and give it up for their benefit.
Romans 14:14-23 “I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. 21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. 22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.” NKJV
Romans 15:1-3 “We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me." NKJV
I can’t even remember what you were asking. But, I will quote this last thing which is what I always go back to:
Matthew 7:13-14
"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” NKJV
Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to Me,'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'” NKJV
well looks like a few things were said here in my absense. i was going to say, lets not rate sin, lets all just be brothers?
or maybe, if all of us women were proverbs 31 women, then dang it, there would BE no sin!
actually, I think seeker pretty much nailed it. i'm jealous, she sounds so smart.
Sin is subjective. We are at different places in our walk with God, therefore won't always be on the same page when it comes to deciphering sin.
Some don't realize a particular action/behavior/habit is sin because the aren't "educated" yet. We must strive to learn what God wants us to do and what not to do.
where do I buy one of them there ejucashuns?
that's the good thing about this ejukashun...it's free. given out weekly at your local church Emmy!
James 4:17 "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." NKJV
Post a Comment