Defining Sin So You Cannot Commit It

This post is a collection of musings based on how the world seems to be interacting right now, especially on social media. Hopefully it won’t seem too disjointed. 🙂

#1 — If you are a Christian, everything else is secondary to our Lord and His commands.

That statement is the most important thing you’ll read in this article. Many of the problems I implicitly point out below wouldn’t happen if we put into action what we are taught by God through Scripture.

For instance…

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28, English Standard Version).

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves (Philippians 2:3).

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:34-35).

We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother (1 John 4:19-21).

Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment (John 7:24).

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? (Matthew 7:1-3)

The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself (Ezekiel 18:20).

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. ’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:43-48).

And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them (Luke 6:31).

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing (1 Peter 3:8-9).

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord (Romans 12:17-19).

They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them (Romans 1:29-32, emphasis mine).

Now onto my musings…

• If you define a sin in such a way you can never commit it…you probably are committing it.
• If it takes your special eyes to identify a sin, it probably isn’t a sin and you’ve made it so nobody who “commits” the sin can defend himself or herself.
• If you define a problem in a way that it can never be solved, then you are not looking for a solution.
• If replacing a race, sexual orientation, etc. in a statement with a “protected” one would cause you to freak out, don’t say, tweet, etc. it.
• Positive stereotypes are still stereotypes…can be condescending or pandering…and can implicitly insult the “opposite” group.
• Treating a group of people like they can never succeed without your help is bigoted.
• If your idea of healing is at the expense of someone else, then you probably aren’t looking for healing.
• Two wrongs don’t make a right.
• Don’t judge people based on the actions of others (including their ancestors).
• If you act upon your righteous anger, you will probably sin, because…
• Most righteous anger isn’t.
• If your enemies cannot feel your love, then you probably aren’t actually loving them.
• You can sin against the devil.
• Assume the best, not the worst, of your opponents.
• Gossip about your opponents is still gossip.
• Sin against your opponents is still sin.
• Supporting the downtrodden won’t make you any less a jerk.

Yes, what is behind this is a combination of what I see “social justice warriors” and politicians (and politicians’ supporters) doing…not to mention some “Christian” discernment ministries.

Ultimately, if you are a Christian, when people see you do they see Jesus?

Let me wrap up by asking everyone’s forgiveness. I am sure I have failed in many of these (and other) ways. I am sorry…may we all find the forgiveness and the healing we all need from the Lord.