The State of Theology--Sin

In the LifeWay Research study on how America understands Christian theology, sin is a key issue.

When asked whether the smallest sin deserves damnation, only 18% of those polled thought so and only 51% of self-professed Evangelicals agreed with the statement. Two out of three Americans contended that everyone sins, but basically people are good; so did 44% of Evangelicals.

Perhaps part of this is due to the fact that only 27% strongly agree that God shows wrath toward sin and 41% agree strongly that Hell is a real place. No consequences? No worries. Perhaps part of it is due to the failure to see that God has authority over humans because He is the Creator (only 61% agree) and that He expresses His commands through the Bible (only 49% agree). Moral relativism. In this environment it's easy to see that only 31% agree that sex outside of marriage is a sin because the fact that the Bible says it is irrelevant. Moral relativism lived out.

There has always been this problem with Christianity. Many, inside and outside of Christendom, have understood it to be just like every other religion--a moral structure for living. Be good and go to heaven. But biblical Christianity has always stood against that principle. We are not saved by being "good enough". There is no such thing. We are saved apart from works. Because the Bible contends that every sin incurs God's wrath and every sin rightly deserves eternal punishment. Today's Americans--even Christian Americans--don't seem to realize this anymore.

Perhaps it's because we've redefined "sin" like we've redefined so many other key words. It isn't "a violation of God", a "falling short of the glory of God", Cosmic Treason. No, sin is transgression of modern sensibilities. Sin is now "being boring" or "having a view that differs with the majority" or perhaps even "being a white male American Christian" (oh, perish the thought!). Sin is agreeing with God that homosexual behavior is sin rather than embracing it. Sin is "not being cool". Sin is whatever we make it ... and that without eternal consequence.

Perhaps it's that churches have tried to become "safe". You know, a place where anyone can go and not be offended and only hear "positive things". Lots of "God loves you" but none of that "Test yourself" stuff. A lot of that "blessed are you" kind of thing (without actually seeing what is blessed--"poor in spirit", "mourn", "hunger and thirst for righteousness", that kind of thing) and none of that nasty "repent" language. So churches fail to make disciples and teach them to obey all that is commanded because, after all, not everyone is comfortable with that.

It's as simple as this. The Bible says "All have sinned" (Rom 3:23), that "all are under sin" (Rom 3:9), that we all deserve death (Rom 6:23), that humans are "dead in sin" and "by nature children of wrath" (Eph 2:1-3). When we undertake to ease or eliminate that proclamation, we do so against God and, in the end, against humans as well since we mask the death penalty under which all humans find themselves. In trying to alleviate the sin problem--"Don't worry; people are basically good and sin isn't really that bad"--we minimize Christ's work on the Cross, the overarching glory of God, and the conflict we face with God. In the words of some well-informed lepers from Elisha's day (2 Kings 7:9), "We do not well."