Sin is more than what we DO (1 John 2:9-12)
Gary McManus, 02/22/2023Part of the DCC Basics series, preached at a Midweek Meeting service
Ash Wednesday
1 John 2:9-12 Sin is more than what we DO.
I don't talk much about sin.
Ash Wednesday according to Google/ Encyclopedia Britannica:
"a solemn reminder of human mortality and the need for reconciliation
with God and marks the beginning of the penitential Lenten season.
(the season before Easter)"
The reason we all need to be reconciled to God is because of sin.
Defining sin is not easy (so much baggage).
Many think of sin as action, but Jesus reminded us that sin begins
in the mind (Matthew 5:28).
James, Jesus’ brother?, states: James 1:14-15.
Sin can include the things we don’t do. Jonah? Some of the
Pharisees (Matthew 23:23).
Specific sins: being unkind to yourself, not forgiving yourself.
failing to love yourself.
Some Pastors object, but they are wrong.
Yet, we often demonstrate lack of self care: forsaking mental health or
physical health and/or safety practices and/or safe practices and/or bad health habits
and/or unhealthy habits (Pastors' health is often no better than the
congregations.) And if our habits wind up hurting us, we will need to
forgive ourselves. So Pastors who write that we don't need to love or
forgive ourselves are wrong. Unless we are like Ravi Zecharias who simply
didn’t think his sexual abuse of others was wrong. He didn’t have to forgive himself
for abusing others if it wasn't wrong to do so. THAT is some wrong thinking.
Ravi Zecharias had a habit of wrong thinking.
My personal sin: I do not, generally, think kindly of myself.
I've even tried to give it up.
Now, I believe there are two reasons for that: Revelation 12:10 (and I
can hear it) and a habit of remembering. Or, as I often say: failure to
love what God loves, failure to forgive as Jesus forgave.
If we have not forgiven ourselves, it adds a sin to the original sin
we are confessing.
Recently I read that racism is not only sinful but the writer suggested
that we can't help it. Racism is a way of thinking that then makes its way into action.
We are not born racist but it is easy to pick up. Why? Our ability to discriminate
(between good or poisonous mushrooms, for example) is why we are at the top of
the food chain. We are very good at it. But when we turn discrimination towards our fellow man, that is not good. Then we are misusing our abilities for evil purposes—we are choosing to love one group MORE than another. To err is human. . .to forgive is divine. (Alexander Pope).
It is not in the Bible but it is true.
Doing divine things is hard for mere mortals.
That is why we need the help of the Holy Spirit.
That is what we remind ourselves every Ash Wednesday. We are here following Jesus, but we are sometimes awfully far behind Jesus. We want to be following Jesus more nearly day by day. Let's dedicate ourselves to the renewal of our minds (Romans 12:2), having Jesus take “every thought captive”( 2 Corinthians 10:5), or (as I often do) dedicate ourselves to having Jesus put us in our right mind (Luke 8:35) Don’t be afraid of that, it doesn’t hurt. Amen.
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