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Were there no such thing as sin, we would all be much better off. Sin is the transgression of God’s law and we have been under its condemnation ever since Eve was deceived by Satan in the garden of Eden. God has many laws. Therefore, we can sin in a number of different ways and while the consequences of every sin is different, they all have two things in common. One is that they all cause suffering and another is that they all separate us from God. So while different sins result in a different level of suffering, some great and some not as great, they all cause suffering, sometimes even for generations after a sin is committed. Obviously, murder would usually cause more suffering than say dishonesty but of course under certain circumstances it can be just a harmful. There are certain sins that God particularly hates. Seven of these are spelled out in Proverbs 6:16-19. They are 1. a proud look, 2. a lying tongue, 3. hands that shed innocent blood, 4. a heart that devises wicked thoughts, 5. feet that are swift in running to mischief, 6. a false witness that speaks lies, and 7. anyone that sows discord among the brethern. Even though sin has caused mankind a tremendous amount of heartache since God placed us here upon the earth, it has had its toll on God as well. In addition to the obvious grief God experiences as He looks down on us from above, witnessing man’s inhumanity to man, He has also suffered the particularly grievous pain of watching His only Son suffering and dying on a cross in order that we might have a remedy for our sins. |
Up until recently, this nation has endured God’s definition of sin pretty well. However, in recent times our government has taken it upon itself to not only question God’s judgment of what sin is or is not but has since 1973, by the legislative process, begun to openly declare even the murder of the unborn to be perfectly fine. If then our government can redefine the sin of murder then what next? The next has now been clearly shown to be the redefining of marriage and the legalization of homosexuality, which is clearly identified as a sin by God in Rom 1:26-27 as well as other places. Furthermore, as if our political leaders have not already gone too far, the political winds are blowing which promise legislation which will declare it a hate crime to even say that homosexuality is sinful. This law would apply most specifically to the pulpit and open the door for governmental control over anything taught by any religious group. It would in effect end any separation between church and state and bring an end to religious freedom as we know it. To declare homosexuality a sin is not to say that it is worse than other sins. It too can be repented of and received forgiveness for. However, the full legal acceptance of this type of sin could return this country to the days of Sodom and Gomorrah and we should all remember what happened to them. Send comments or questions to the Clintwood Church of Christ, POB 746, Clintwood, Va. 24228 or email me at bryan.renita@gmail.com Check out our web page at clintwoodchurchofchrist.com |