We live in a self defining culture where the concept of sin has become entangled in a legalistic argument over what is right and what is wrong. The true concept of God can no longer be injected into a legal argument because the burden of proof cannot be met. Christianity is struggling in the hands of the devious to come to a conscious on what is right and wrong based upon subjective (man) morality rather than objective (God) morality. In our political correct society it has become necessary to redefine sin as it applies to all of mankind. A philosopher of some sort has stated, "Right is that which is formed within a person's mind, that brings peace to his inner longing." Thus the rule of, "If it feel good, do it", has become one of the standards of determining right and wrong. A rather risque and dangerous way to begin a search for right and wrong.
In a culture that is infused with the knowledge of good and evil rather than the knowledge of God, there are two moralities at play, objective and subjective. Objective morality recognizes God as the decider of right and wrong. Subjective morality gives man the final authority as to what is right or wrong and it conclusions are derived from the knowledge of good and evil. Thus, with feigned and ambiguous words the learned philosophers have set the rules of debate. The objective morality verses The subjective morality debate is really a Christianity verses Atheist debate in disguise. To engage in a meaningful debate, both sides must respect each other position, but Christianity has never been a religion that respected the position of the ungodly and Atheist will never respect the values of Christianity.
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. The objective morals that were promoted by the Western societies are being replaced by a subjective morality, Christian values are replaced by political correct values. The organized churches are adopting a message of peaceful coexistence rather than confrontation. It is conceivable that if Jesus or Paul were to preach a message in today's modern church they would be harshly chastised. Imagine John the Baptist standing in the pulpit of a marvelous and richly endowed church screaming, "Oh ye generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath of God."
Among Christians, the concept of sin flows from the ideas of inherent human sinfulness, the original sin of Adam and that one's subjective moral or natural inclinations must be categorically classed as evil. Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. This was God's assessment of the man who had partaken of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This knowledge was so powerful that soon after he attained it, he overstepped his bounds and began to challenge God. A restraining order was enacted in that God confused the languages, but in time the man overcame that and within the last one hundred years his knowledge has increased substantially.
The problem with deciding the sin question is that the moral principles that Christians often claim to be "objective" or of God usually coincide with what they "feel" subjectively to be true. This could be explained as the, "Spirit within us concept", but religious indoctrination also plays an important role here. When pressed to provide justification, the person in question can be led to believe through skillful manipulation that its concept of morality or God might not be objective, and the question of sin becomes a test or a question of belief. This question of belief might consequently grow and cause doubt or hysterical as the subjective basis of their arguments are revealed. Without proper support many are led astray.
The debate as to what is right and what is wrong can continue to the "N" degree, but the true question is, "Do we believe in God?" If the answer is an unequivocal "Yes", and without doubt, the question of sin is settled. In every field of human endeavors there will always be the good and the bad, the right and the wrong, we live and we die. There are those who will openly deny the existence of God, and there are those who have redefined God according to their own standards. If we refuse to accept God as the Supreme Being, the Bible as the history of God interaction with his creation that tells how all of this began and how it will end, then we have nothing to add to the equation of life. Our existence is merely a perverse form self-gratification.
When many of us consider the sin question we think of violations of the Ten Commandments. Even then, we tend to think of murder and adultery as "major" sins compared with lying, cursing, or idolatry. The writer here is using the law as a guide. Under the law, certain sins carried a death penalty. 1 John 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. Paul, however, puts this in perspective in Romans 3:20, when he says, "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin." A dichotomy is at work and a decision must be rendered. To be conscious of sin, we become aware of the feeling derived from sinning, therefore our reaction to sin is based upon how it makes us feel.
The road to the justification of sin began with allowing our emotions to play a role in determining what is a sin an what is not. If we believe in God, then the Word of God should be the determining factor. Paul explained what happens when we remove the knowledge of God from our thought process. Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Feeling good is subjective morality, it allows us to justify sin.
In a culture that is infused with the knowledge of good and evil rather than the knowledge of God, there are two moralities at play, objective and subjective. Objective morality recognizes God as the decider of right and wrong. Subjective morality gives man the final authority as to what is right or wrong and it conclusions are derived from the knowledge of good and evil. Thus, with feigned and ambiguous words the learned philosophers have set the rules of debate. The objective morality verses The subjective morality debate is really a Christianity verses Atheist debate in disguise. To engage in a meaningful debate, both sides must respect each other position, but Christianity has never been a religion that respected the position of the ungodly and Atheist will never respect the values of Christianity.
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. The objective morals that were promoted by the Western societies are being replaced by a subjective morality, Christian values are replaced by political correct values. The organized churches are adopting a message of peaceful coexistence rather than confrontation. It is conceivable that if Jesus or Paul were to preach a message in today's modern church they would be harshly chastised. Imagine John the Baptist standing in the pulpit of a marvelous and richly endowed church screaming, "Oh ye generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath of God."
Among Christians, the concept of sin flows from the ideas of inherent human sinfulness, the original sin of Adam and that one's subjective moral or natural inclinations must be categorically classed as evil. Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. This was God's assessment of the man who had partaken of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This knowledge was so powerful that soon after he attained it, he overstepped his bounds and began to challenge God. A restraining order was enacted in that God confused the languages, but in time the man overcame that and within the last one hundred years his knowledge has increased substantially.
The problem with deciding the sin question is that the moral principles that Christians often claim to be "objective" or of God usually coincide with what they "feel" subjectively to be true. This could be explained as the, "Spirit within us concept", but religious indoctrination also plays an important role here. When pressed to provide justification, the person in question can be led to believe through skillful manipulation that its concept of morality or God might not be objective, and the question of sin becomes a test or a question of belief. This question of belief might consequently grow and cause doubt or hysterical as the subjective basis of their arguments are revealed. Without proper support many are led astray.
When many of us consider the sin question we think of violations of the Ten Commandments. Even then, we tend to think of murder and adultery as "major" sins compared with lying, cursing, or idolatry. The writer here is using the law as a guide. Under the law, certain sins carried a death penalty. 1 John 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. Paul, however, puts this in perspective in Romans 3:20, when he says, "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin." A dichotomy is at work and a decision must be rendered. To be conscious of sin, we become aware of the feeling derived from sinning, therefore our reaction to sin is based upon how it makes us feel.
The road to the justification of sin began with allowing our emotions to play a role in determining what is a sin an what is not. If we believe in God, then the Word of God should be the determining factor. Paul explained what happens when we remove the knowledge of God from our thought process. Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Feeling good is subjective morality, it allows us to justify sin.
God wanted us to recognize our sins. Even those who have not murdered or committed adultery will find themselves convicted of lying, or of worshipping false idols like wealth or power ahead of God. We have created new idols. The worship of the ancient golden calf has returned in a new and ruthless disguise. It exists in the form of in the idolatry of money and in the dictatorship of an impersonal economy within the organized church whose worship services are lacking a true spiritual purpose other that to stimulate or excite the mass.
What is sin? If you believe in God, this should be a no-brainer. Some things are wrong, some things are right, simply because God says so and He knows. But if you do not believe in God to become involved in a legalistic argument over what is right and what is wrong is pointless. This is an argument can never be resolved. In Psalms 53:1, David speaks to a group of none believers. To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David. "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good." David said the "fool", that word is edited out of the modern text, is a person that says there is no God. This can be achieved through words or deeds.
The organized church has allowed itself to be drawn into an arena of contradictions and lies. Vain promises are made in the name of God and God is not responding to these requests. The respect that should be given to God, the church and Christianity is quickly fading. Many churches are becoming nothing more than a place of entertainment as a new and suggestive beat invades what once was a sacred worship service. A play on the emotions is taking center stage and the spirit of God is defined as nothing but an emotional expression.
Men and women of dubious stature are demanding that they become respected as messengers of God when their message is tainted with subjective moralities. Leaders who practice to deceive are amassing fortunes selling a shaped message and goods designed to make the listener feel good, while they skillfully massage the sinful nature of humanity. Whenever there is a discussion that involves religion, Christians are forced to mount a defense that is quickly silenced based upon objective morality and political correctness. Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? Jesus even foresaw a time when mankind would not endure sound doctrine.
What is sin? If you believe in God, this should be a no-brainer. Some things are wrong, some things are right, simply because God says so and He knows. But if you do not believe in God to become involved in a legalistic argument over what is right and what is wrong is pointless. This is an argument can never be resolved. In Psalms 53:1, David speaks to a group of none believers. To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David. "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good." David said the "fool", that word is edited out of the modern text, is a person that says there is no God. This can be achieved through words or deeds.
The organized church has allowed itself to be drawn into an arena of contradictions and lies. Vain promises are made in the name of God and God is not responding to these requests. The respect that should be given to God, the church and Christianity is quickly fading. Many churches are becoming nothing more than a place of entertainment as a new and suggestive beat invades what once was a sacred worship service. A play on the emotions is taking center stage and the spirit of God is defined as nothing but an emotional expression.
Men and women of dubious stature are demanding that they become respected as messengers of God when their message is tainted with subjective moralities. Leaders who practice to deceive are amassing fortunes selling a shaped message and goods designed to make the listener feel good, while they skillfully massage the sinful nature of humanity. Whenever there is a discussion that involves religion, Christians are forced to mount a defense that is quickly silenced based upon objective morality and political correctness. Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? Jesus even foresaw a time when mankind would not endure sound doctrine.
The justification of sin under the guidelines of the government has already taken place, and one by one the organized church are being drawn in. In a society based upon subjective morality, the people represented by the government reserve the right to define such things as, when does life began, the definition of marriage and even how one is separated from sin. In exchange for funds churches are organized and are required to issue human rights statements that adhere to the standards set forth by the government. While the church and many minority groups danced in the street and proclaim it to be the works of God, The Human rights act of 1964 sets the stage for a direct attack on God's authority and the church said, "Amen".
Listening carefully to the message of the Bishop as he chooses his words carefully in his attempt to justify the position of the church and reconcile the difference in opinions among his constituents. A church that once was noted for its message of, "It's Holiness or Hell", dumbed down its rhetoric in the face of adversaries and now proclaim, "God loves all of us." A deviant interpretation of John 3:16. This occurs when we surgically remove one verse from the supporting conversation or scripture and present it as a complete thought. From that same verse many teach that we are not to condemn those who walk in darkness. John 3:18-19 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
