3 S Sins

Down at the chapel on Sunday mornings we've been engaged in a light, summer-y sermon series on doctrine.    We've took a look at creation, revelation, atonement, grace and justification. A sharp observer might notice that the doctrine of sin, although mentioned in connection with nearly every other doctrine, has not been treated with its own sermon. Is this purposeful or neglectful? Yes, it is. I believe one can hit the "low" points of sin in connection with sermons on atonement, justification, and the nature of God and man and cover the subject fairly well. Yet, there are nuances and crevices of sin that might warrant their own sermon. Our own ability and Satan's ability at deception are uncanny. On the other hand, if one announces a sermon on sin, you just turned off half to three quarters of the ears and the others who want to hear it probably have some legalistic hang-up or such a poor image of God wanting to whack them that they view a sermon on sin as a flagellation whip. Who needs that? On the other hand a clearer understanding of sin and what it does to humanity would go a long way in keep us on theologically level ground, which is better for spiritual warfare than debating 3 S sins.

3 S sins? 3 S sins are "slippery slope sins." More on that in a moment.....

What is the best way to describe sin or define a sinner? Too often, we begin with the sins (plural) one commits. What is better is to look at the nature of sin. Different word pictures from the Old Testament, define it as a (1)deviation-- a missing the goal, a falling short-- or(2) a change in the person, as from innocent to guilty, debt free to accountable-- owing a spiritual debt, and (3) rebellion, either against a person or a set standard. These are often seen as self-willed pride to decide without regard to God or without faith in God.  The New Testament carries these ideas forward but it makes it more personal, more of an attitude set up against God and His rule, reign, and rights on  His creation's choices. This is sIn, with a capital "I." It says, "Father does not know best," I can make my own way. It is more a disease (sin-singular) of arrogant, un-faith than a list of symptoms (sin-plural) or actions that I may do or not do. This is why the young, rich man thought he was ready for the revival circuit in Luke 18 and Matt 19. Jesus questioned him about the things he  did, no problem. He was a good, young man. But then Jesus gave him a command that revealed his heart--go sell all you have---oops, he loved his money and possessions. They sat on the throne of his heart, and that is where sin (singular, the "disease") lives. It puts us and our stuff where only God belongs. The "disease" then causes the "symptoms" to manifest themselves in behaviors and attitudes, sins. The bottom line problem is not just the sins but the sin of my heart. It is in my nature. I want to rule me and my world without God. That's why the ten commandments starts with who you worship. That sets up everything else. Jesus died for our sins but more to the point, He died to free me from my old nature (sin) and give me a new one, His.

The problem of preaching on sin is that often, despite what is said, people's conditioned minds keep running to "sins," the things we do we shouldn't and don't do that we should. It is as if could fix our selves and this world if we did all these virtues and didn't do all these "sins." This is both naive and deadly. But even if virtues outnumbered the vices, we wouldn't conquer pride, arrogance, self-will, and un-faith. It's hard to see these, that is why they are deadly. We think by doing good we are good. It takes God showing them to us as he did to the rich, young man, Peter, Nicodemus, and me. Maybe you, too. Only God's grace can defeat sin.

3 S Sins remind me of these truths. They are slippery slope sins. Once you get started down that path it becomes very hard to stop and you spend a lot of time justifying your sliding. Let me give you an example. If I say gambling is a sin I can make a pretty good case against it. You don't like it because you enjoy it and are careful with it. You budget some "entertainment" money and just have fun and hurt no one and still pay the bills. I counter with the industry making losers of people, it's promoting poverty because not everyone is as smart or disciplined as you. I say, "Jesus doesn't want you spending His money that way, it's poor stewardship." You counter with, "oh, yeah, what about gluttony, fat boy? Isn't that a sin? Does Jesus want you buying all those Oreos?" See the slippery slope? I may have seen your sin but you see mine. That's the problem with cardinal and venial sins, yours are cardinal, mine are venial. And handling sin in this manner gets the Christian completely off point, which is the devil's point, no doubt.

What do you do with 3S sins? There are, after all, things we should not do and things we should? What do I choose? Pardon, but my simplicity is showing....ask Jesus. What is Godly about this attitude or action? Does my attitude toward ______ and my actions lead to holiness, closeness, and fellowship with Christ? Does this look like what the righteousness of Christ looks like? Do these actions lead to more justice for all and point others to Jesus? Ask Him, then listen. He had the first 4 G network for guidance in life. Our motivations should be Grace filled; Our attitudes should reflect His Godliness; our actions results in Goodness (think justice) toward all men; our lives show God's Glory in the praise, joy, and freedom we display.

Sin is not a matter of keeping score. It is a matter of trusting God's remedy for our disease of rebellion and walking with Him in faith toward Holiness.  As we fall more in love with Jesus and His will for our lives, the chains that so easily entangle us fall off (Heb. 12:1-2) If we do that, we won't have to worry much about slippery slopes, He already climbed one for us on Calvary.

3 S or 4 G?
Cos

PS: did you know that one theory states that the main characters in Spongebob Squarepants were patterned after the seven deadly sins?