Sin

yes sin- this is an ugly and unpopular word around our culture these days. most people don’t really enjoy talking about this topic. a lot of people don’t believe in it. some see it as a manufactured idea on behalf of religion to control people. it’s often associated with a laundry list of actions, and the list goes on and on.

but sin is really a core fundamental idea to the christian worldview. within the context of this worldview, sin is merely anything that detracts us from our original purpose of worshiping God and experiencing perfect harmony with Him.

most people today want to see others as being genuinely good. they think, yeah, we have some issues from time to time, but all in all people, given the right circumstances, people have the capacity of being good. and while i also believe that there is a level of good that can come from all, in the eyes of a perfect, holy and glorious God, the best we can muster up is no where near what He knows as good.

it is our small understanding of God that really keeps us from truly seeing our true size (smallness) and over-exaggerating our obedience and goodness. and because we inflate our own actions, opinions and goodness- we do not see the need for a redeeming character- this is why the longing to see Jesus the Christ- a Holy intercessor on our behalf- is not present in our culture- because if there is no sin- there is no separation from God. and if there is no separation from God, there is no need to be reconciled back to Him. so for those who don’t believe in sin- of course Jesus doesn’t make sense or seem necessary. there is no arguing that- Jesus is only necessary, if one sees the need for redemption.

this is why- in the end- preaching the Gospel of Jesus to today’s culture, without dealing with the idea of ‘sin’ is futile in the end. the two cannot be divorced…

*hasler