Closing the Distance

The "S" Word

Culture is not the problem. I have been studying and meditating on the topic of sin this week for a lesson I am teaching in my Home Group. Sunday morning sermons, fellowship with Christian brothers, and popular Christian books neglect the topic of sin greatly. Sin is either not talked about or it is equated with only a list of "don'ts". Here are some summarizing thoughts on sin:

1. Sin is not just doing something we shouldn't. That is the sin of commission. There is also the sin of omission - not doing something we should. Incidentally this was Adam's first sin and as sons of Adam men are prone to the sin of passivity.

2. Sin separates. It separates us from God. It separates us from others. It even separated (or broke) creation.

3. There is "fruit" sin and "root" sin. Understanding the difference is huge. Looking at porn is a fruit sin. That which motivates you to look at porn is the root sin. The root sin must be repented of or you will just be putting a band-aid on a broken bone.

4. Sin is not "out there". Sin is in your heart. Separatists will tell you to avoid certain people or places as if you might "catch" fornication like a cold. Should women dress modestly? Absolutely. But it is the wickedness in your heart that causes you to sin.

what do you think?

False Heaven

(Philippians 1:23) ...my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

If you were to ask most Christians what their reward is for being a follower of Christ most would say heaven. And in a sense they would be right. Heaven is a place that the Bible speaks of as our eternal reward, a place where there are no tears or sin.

Even our old school evangelism encouraged this: "if you were to die today do you know if you would go to heaven or hell?". Which is a weird way to evangelize if you think about it. Knocking on someone's door, "if I were to kill you right now, would you go to heaven."

And then inevitably the question gets asked. What will we do in heaven? Is there golf in heaven? Baseball? Grassy fields to run through? Lolipops?

And because heaven is the eternal end in mind, our teaching and lives are shaped around it. We preach sermons on 5 Ways to a Better Marriage and 3 Steps to a More Fulfilling Life. As Christians we live our lives using the Bible as a guidebook to a better life here on earth because we are practicing for the perfect life in heaven.

Now as you are reading this you might think, "but all that is true!". Yes, it is true, but it is incomplete.

Heaven is not the end. And the Bible shouldn't be used like a self-help book. Paul's desire is to depart and be with Christ - not to depart and go to heaven because they have baseball and lolipops.

In John 17:3 Jesus tells us what eternal life (heaven) is: "and this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."

Heaven is about knowing God. Knowing Him fully as you are fully known. God is our reward! We get Jesus. We are so skewed by sin that the thought of God being our reward doesn't seem to move us or excite us. But with the goal of seeking the face of God in place, all the other things - a good marriage, a fulfilling life - will happen. Sin is the ultimate enemy, not unhappiness or unfulfillment. And Jesus is the ultimate answer, not happiness or fulfillment.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.