Rational responses to sin

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

How should a Christian respond to sin? From all appearances, the responses on this board range from the irrational to the altogether uncompassionate. People who call themselves "Christian” regularly express revulsion over all sorts of sin and resort to disagreement with one another rather than going to their own personal prayer closet, crying out to God for revival. It seems most here are more in the hopes of winning the argument than winning souls. If that seems harsh, please forgive me for the apparent judgment, but I speak more for the entirety of Christendom than for the membership of this board.

OK, so let me keep it simple and direct. Our first problem is that we express amazement when lawmakers follow polls and opinion to redefine something as being other than sin, when what we call it within the church is, unequivocally, sin. We as Christians and other socially conservative people have predicted for years this would happen. So why is it such a big surprise, and why is there such a surprised and self-righteous reaction, when this happens? It isn’t like there isn’t enough sin within the church for us to be concerned without having to look outside the church at the world for condemnation.

While we stand on the sidelines – stand, not kneel -- corporations, small businesses, and every entity in between are standing up for what they believe, to the outrage of someone somewhere in almost every case. Sin is regularly being certified, conducted, and publicly condoned in states where those sins are now legal and celebrated. In other words, sinners are sinning and celebrating their sin.

This is nothing new. The same thing has been going on since Sodom and Gomorrah. As always, since Eve served the fruit up to Adam, sins that produce the gag reflex in someone are being put on public display. But when we as Christians are surprised by sinners sinning, all we do is exhibit the fact that we really don’t believe or study the Bible.

The Bible is clear that no one does good and that everyone has turned to their own way.

Isaiah 53, NASB
6 All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him.​

It should come as no surprise to us that sin happens on a daily basis. I have to wonder why we fall into shock and awe when sin is shoved in our face and celebrated in public and in the media?

I believe many Christians still accept the false "Doctrine of the Inherent Goodness of Man." If not, then why the surprise? If we don’t cling morbidly to the concept that mankind as a whole is good, based on what is perceived as moral living, then why do we seem taken aback by the fact that sinners sin? It seems we utterly fail to remember that the Bible tells us "none is righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks God" (Romans 3:10, 11). A person cannot help but be shocked by the evil in the world, if one forgets this basic tenet of the faith. I submit to you that what should be more shocking to us is that anyone ever does a single righteous act.

Our second problem lies in the over-dramatization of our reaction. We seem to think we will win people to our beliefs if we react with outrage, anger, or self-righteousness. The sad truth is, we fake sincerity and value that above truth. As Christians, we must always seek to be gentle and meek, respectful and kind, never repaying evil for evil, yet we must always exhibit through our actions that we really believe that it is the Word of God which changes people.

After David feigned madness before Abimelech, he penned these words:

Psalm 34
1 I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul will make its boast in the LORD;
The humble will hear it and rejoice.
3 O magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.​

Yet how many of us, when we see what is going on in the world, are outraged and our first thought is, "I must argue this," Or, "I am boycotting that!" Do we somehow feel vindicated that our slippery slope argument was right and we find ourselves suddenly doing a victory dance over the fact that God has allowed men to become so debased? Is the main reason we celebrate in such a manner because now we’ve won that Baptist Board debate?

If so, I've one word for us: Repent! Solomon tells us, "Don't do that!"

Proverbs 24
17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;
18 Or the LORD will see it and be displeased,
And turn His anger away from him.​

Falling deeper into sin or having a conscience so hardened that public sin is now someone’s thing is am utter failing on our part. Christian, you are a hypocrite if you stand by and exercise pride while judging others for their sins, particularly those upon whom God has not yet bestowed His saving grace.

Do you get it yet? The problem is not the debauchery of the world. The problem is sin in general, and it is our problem as much as it is the world's. And guess what? We are not the solution. Our rhetoric, our arguments, even this post -- none of these things are the solution. Only God can fix sin and only through the salvation of sinners by grace through faith in Christ alone. More laws, less laws, parades, boycotts, letters to the editor and the like are all ineffective tools of change for a culture God has abandoned. No, fellow Christian, our greatest weapon in this battle is our humility, and our willingness to spend more time on your knees, rather than on Baptist Board and other social media “winning the argument.” And when the argument is with ourselves, what is the point? We're already (supposedly) on the same page, so why do we fight, back-bite and insult?

We need to ask ourselves, "How can we magnify and exalt the name of Christ as the result of these circumstances." "How can we decrease and He increase?" "How does He increase and how do we decrease?" Or, perhaps, the real question for some on here is, "Do I desire to see 'these people' saved?"

Just so you know, I get it. Sin is destructive, ungodly and will be punished -– all sins, many of which most of us overlook in our own lives each day. We must have the mind of Paul who found it no exaggeration to call himself the chief of sinners while also being able to pen the sinners "will not inherit the kingdom of God passages."

1 Timothy 1
15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.

1 Corinthians 6
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God ? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.​

Be thoughtful.
Be rational.
Be logicical.

Don’t make blanket statements you haven’t thought through like you think no one should ever be fired from a job because of their beliefs. Don’t make legal arguments you don’t understand or are unwilling to backup. Don't be emotional to the point of losing rational thought. Let your every word be seasoned with salt and supportable by Scripture. Edify, instead of breaking down, as Paul wrote:

Ephesians 4
29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.​

In summary, when confronted with these situations, or others like them:

• Believe the Bible and act as if you believe it by not acting so surprised.
• Turn your eyes upon Jesus and consider how you can serve Him.
• Share the gospel with anyone who will listen.
• Examine yourself and be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).
• Use your tongue, the pen and your keyboard wisely as if you really believe

God is watching.

 

[Judith]

While I agree with you in part I think you need to keep in mind that there is a big difference between a Christian who sins and hates it seeking freedom from that sin and a person who is in sin and brags about it seeking justfication for their sin and even expecting others to accept their sinful ways.

I do agree that most of us do not handle the lost well depending on their sin, but I would also suggest that sometimes the over reaction is a protection so as not to become liberal minded and even tempted ourselves. I think that we can be firm, holding to our covictions, and loving at the same time.

So depending on the circumstances it is not always wrong to show disgust and anger over a persons sin. Jesus did and I think He is a very good example. His love required a certain amount of strong reactions at times as does ours.

Also what is written on a BB board does not necessiarly reflect how a person handles a certain type of sinner. Most on a BB are very brave, even brash, when they out of reach of others and not as likely to be so brash when their nose is in reach of someone's knuckles. Just some thoughts.

 

[salzer mtn]

Yes, even a Christian sins after they are saved but a Christian is not given over to sin. The lost role sin under their tongues and have a apatite for it.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

While I agree with you in part I think you need to keep in mind that there is a big difference between a Christian who sins and hates it seeking freedom from that sin and a person who is in sin and brags about it seeking justfication for their sin and even expecting others to accept their sinful ways.

I think you're assuming a great deal incorrectly if you think I don't know that difference. There is nothing in that post to infer I don't realize that difference. In that post, I'm not talking about the latter -- I'm talking about the typical reaction of others to sin, particularly people on this board, who seem to forget they too are sinners in need of a Savior, and have no right nor basis upon which to judge those outside the church, or even those inside the church who don't repent, given that such an unforgiving attitude has no place in those of us who refuse to acknowledge our own sin, seemingly because we think ours "isn't as bad as theirs."

I do agree that most of us do not handle the lost well depending on their sin, but I would also suggest that sometimes the over reaction is a protection so as not to become liberal minded and even tempted ourselves.

While I agree that those of us who minister to others in addictions or compulsions that we ourselves have also suffered from in the past need to be wary of temptation to fall back into that same sin, it is ludicrous to think someone who has never had a propensity for certain sins would be "tempted" or might be in danger of "becoming liberal minded." None of us are going to be influenced to sin in ways we find abhorrent, or to consider "trying it" once if we don't have the proclivity to do so. That's an irrational thought.

I think that we can be firm, holding to our covictions, and loving at the same time.

With that, I agree.

So depending on the circumstances it is not always wrong to show disgust and anger over a persons sin.

Again, ludicrous. That's a human reaction, and human reactions are based in a sinful nature. God’s anger is not a sin. It’s the way a holy God responds to sin. It is the only holy response to cosmic rebellion and treason from men made in His image. Don’t try to conform God to your standard, because He is the standard. Our anger is sinful, because we are sinners. But God as a perfectly holy God, can only be angry in a righteous way.

Jesus did ...

... because He is God ...

... and I think He is a very good example.

We are rarely capable of righteous anger, and when we are angered by others' sin, we need to remind ourselves that we sin as well, and if we don't get as angry about our own sin, in a healthy way that is expressed in humility and repentance, then we sin when angered by the sin of others.

His love required a certain amount of strong reactions at times as does ours.

And again, He is God. We are not.

Also what is written on a BB board does not necessiarly reflect how a person handles a certain type of sinner. Most on a BB are very brave, even brash, when they out of reach of others and not as likely to be so brash when their nose is in reach of someone's knuckles. Just some thoughts.

These last thoughts are absolutely true, to the extent that most online use their online personae to lash out in ways they have no nerve to do so in person. But then again, given there are no inhibitions online because there are no consequences online (other than perhaps the occasional banishment from a website), those who act in hateful, ugly, ungodly fashion through their online persona are most likely being the person they really are. Again, they are unrighteous in such behavior, and if they don't repent of that sin as they should all others, there will be consequences for them. Those also are "just some thoughts."

 

[quantumfaith]

I think you're assuming a great deal incorrectly if you think I don't know that difference. There is nothing in that post to infer I don't realize that difference. In that post, I'm not talking about the latter -- I'm talking about the typical reaction of others to sin, particularly people on this board, who seem to forget they too are sinners in need of a Savior, and have no right nor basis upon which to judge those outside the church, or even those inside the church who don't repent, given that such an unforgiving attitude has no place in those of us who refuse to acknowledge our own sin, seemingly because we think ours "isn't as bad as theirs."While I agree that those of us who minister to others in addictions or compulsions that we ourselves have also suffered from in the past need to be wary of temptation to fall back into that same sin, it is ludicrous to think someone who has never had a propensity for certain sins would be "tempted" or might be in danger of "becoming liberal minded." None of us are going to be influenced to sin in ways we find abhorrent, or to consider "trying it" once if we don't have the proclivity to do so. That's an irrational thought.With that, I agree.Again, ludicrous. That's a human reaction, and human reactions are based in a sinful nature. God’s anger is not a sin. It’s the way a holy God responds to sin. It is the only holy response to cosmic rebellion and treason from men made in His image. Don’t try to conform God to your standard, because He is the standard. Our anger is sinful, because we are sinners. But God as a perfectly holy God, can only be angry in a righteous way. ... because He is God ... We are rarely capable of righteous anger, and when we are angered by others' sin, we need to remind ourselves that we sin as well, and if we don't get as angry about our own sin, in a healthy way that is expressed in humility and repentance, then we sin when angered by the sin of others.And again, He is God. We are not.These last thoughts are absolutely true, to the extent that most online use their online personae to lash out in ways they have no nerve to do so in person. But then again, given there are no inhibitions online because there are no consequences online (other than perhaps the occasional banishment from a website), those who act in hateful, ugly, ungodly fashion through their online persona are most likely being the person they really are. Again, they are unrighteous in such behavior, and if they don't repent of that sin as they should all others, there will be consequences for them. Those also are "just some thoughts."

Bravo!!!! ESPECIALLY the highlighted thoughts.

 

[Revmitchell]

How should a Christian respond to sin? From all appearances, the responses on this board range from the irrational to the altogether uncompassionate. People who call themselves "Christian” regularly express revulsion over all sorts of sin and resort to disagreement with one another rather than going to their own personal prayer closet, crying out to God for revival. It seems most here are more in the hopes of winning the argument than winning souls.

You do not know that about people on this board. You do not know what people do outside of this board. Maybe you ought to begin with your own judgment of people you cannot know anything about.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

You do not know that about people on this board. You do not know what people do outside of this board. Maybe you ought to begin with your own judgment of people you cannot know anything about.

As members of this board, we express ourselves daily to one another. If I cannot draw conclusions about those who are members with me, based upon what they say to me and to others, then what is the point of discussing anything with anyone on here? My judgment is based on this so-called "fellowship of Baptists" who come here on a daily basis to express thoughts and opinions to and about -- mostly about - one another. My judgment is as just as possible, given what I read and see. If it is not, then it is because others are not being honest about themselves.

I do not claim not to have sin in my life. The primary sin I commit is in believing my education and experience is what helps addicts, not the power of God, and I find it necessary to repent of that sin often. I do not sin, as some claim, in loving others, particularly those most on this board regard as unlovable, and some even regard as unsalvagable. I will not apologize for befriending them, proclaiming the hateful, ugly way they are treated to be "discrimination," and doing what I consider right in calling the church as is constituted among the members here to accountability.

I will not cease doing so. If others don't care for that ministry from me, they know how to exclude me from their sight.

 

[quantumfaith]

As members of this board, we express ourselves daily to one another. If I cannot draw conclusions about those who are members with me, based upon what they say to me and to others, then what is the point of discussing anything with anyone on here? My judgment is based on this so-called "fellowship of Baptists" who come here on a daily basis to express thoughts and opinions to and about -- mostly about - one another. My judgment is as just as possible, given what I read and see. If it is not, then it is because others are not being honest about themselves.

I do not claim not to have sin in my life. The primary sin I commit is in believing my education and experience is what helps addicts, not the power of God, and I find it necessary to repent of that sin often. I do not sin, as some claim, in loving others, particularly those most on this board regard as unlovable, and some even regard as unsalvagable. I will not apologize for befriending them, proclaiming the hateful, ugly way they are treated to be "discrimination," and doing what I consider right in calling the church as is constituted among the members here to accountability.

I will not cease doing so. If others don't care for that ministry from me, they know how to exclude me from their sight.

Sure would be nice to meet you one day ....this side of eternity. Blessings

 

[Yeshua1]

We do as we always do, realise sinners act as they do because of being in a fallen. sinful condition pray and tell them about the Gospel, and also instruct them that if the Lord changes them, he will expect and provide means to have life styles more reflective who they now are in christ!

And inside Church, must uphold God's standards, and not have culture/society be the way we decide what is now moral or not!

that is for ANY sin as God has defined as being in bible!