Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park, Wildwood, Missouri
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. ~ Ecclesiastes 3: 11
We didn’t try to venture out to a worship service today. I’m not even sure there’s a place close by. Instead, we logged on to The Chapel and listened to Pastor Mike as he finished up his series on the book of John. And as always, it was excellent. I encourage you to check out any of his sermons at thechapel.life/greencampus.
Today’s Sunday School lesson is one final walk through the dating study and covers a topic most of us don’t usually care to discuss.
SIN – –
What is sin? Is it different for everyone? Are there ‘gray’ areas? Are there ‘degrees of sin’ – meaning that on a scale of one to ten, some sins are worse than others and it’s okay to do a one or two, but not a nine or ten? In other words, “Yes, I take supplies from work and pad my time-sheet, but I’ve never murdered anyone, so I’m a good person. God doesn’t really care about a few pens or paper. And I’m entitled to add some extra time because the boss doesn’t appreciate all the work I do. And besides, I didn’t get the raise I was expecting – and deserved.”
On dictionary.com, the definition of sin is – “1. Transgression of divine law; the sin of Adam. 2. Any act regarded as such a transgression, especially a willful or deliberate violation of some religious or moral principle. 3. Any reprehensible or regrettable action, behavior, lapse, etc.; great fault or offense: It’s a sin to waste time.”
The Student Bible Dictionary (the one we, as Christ-followers, should be more interested in knowing) defines sin as, “Missing the mark of God’s will by choice and because of human weakness (James 1:14-15, Romans 7:17-25). Action or attitude that disobeys God, betrays Him, or fails to do good (Romans 3:23, James 4:17).”
We, as humans, are always looking for ways around sin. Thinking things like, “I’m entitled.” Or “God’s busy with the ‘big things’, so He doesn’t really care about this.”, or “No one will know.”, or “It’s not really wrong.”, or “I had to lie.”, or “It’s not wrong if we care about each other.”, or “I can’t help it, it’s just the way I am.”, and any number of other excuses that we make on a daily basis.
One thing many people don’t realize is that there are sins of commission – that means actually doing something wrong; and sins of omission – that means not doing something you should. “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” (James 4:17).
Sin is sin is sin. To God, it doesn’t matter what ‘degree’ of sin it is. To Him, it’s just as wrong for us to omit our daily study and prayer time (I Samuel 12:23) as it is to rob a bank (Exodus 20:15). It’s just as wrong for us to say an unkind word to or about someone as it is to murder them (Matthew 5:21-22). It’s just as wrong for us to ignore the needs of others (I John 3:17) as it is for us to take the Lord’s name in vain, or misuse His name (Exodus 20:7).
When we sin, it causes a rift in the relationship between us and God. It pulls us away from God. He doesn’t leave us, we leave Him. He doesn’t put a barrier up, we do it to ourselves. It is much the same as when we choose to upset, hurt or anger another person – whether intentional or unintentional. The relationship is damaged. Communication is difficult at best. Our life is out of sorts. We carry around the weight of the problem we caused until we repair it. Only then can the relationship be restored in its fullest sense. In some cases, the relationship is never fully restored due to deeply hurt feelings or lost trust, but it is NEVER that way with God. Because He is God and not human. God’s love and forgiveness is ALWAYS there. To repair our relationship with Him, all we have to do is sincerely repent. (I John 1:9). But we must repent. And it must be sincere. Otherwise, “If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His Word has no place in our lives.” (I John 1:10). Maybe it’s easier to think of it like a parent/child relationship. God, the Father, and us, His children. A good parent (even an imperfect human one) loves their child, no matter what the child has done. Requiring a child to apologize for their disobedience, not only restores the parent/child relationship to the closeness it should be, it’s also a learning experience for the child. An opportunity for them to see what they did was wrong, and if done properly, why it was wrong. But the good parent doesn’t leave their child. They are always there. Waiting with open arms. God, the Father, loves, disciplines and waits even more so for us. “Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:10-11
To help us out a bit more, I’ve included a lesson I once taught on the Ten Commandments; my version of what I believe they look like today. There are more questions than answers, but those questions are there to guide us to consider what God expects of us. Do you know where to find the Commandments in Scripture? They’re in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5. Can you quote them? No other gods, no idols, don’t misuse the name of the Lord, remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy (which includes no work), honor your father & mother, don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t give false testimony and don’t covet.
But are they still relevant for us today? After all, we are an “enlightened” bunch, are we not? Besides, those commandments were just for the Israelites, weren’t they? Or, maybe you believe everything in the Old Testament is irrelevant since Jesus came?
I believe Jesus would beg to differ. In Matthew 5:17-19, He says, Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore, anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
No other gods – In Luke 4:5-8 Satan tempts Jesus to worship him but Jesus’ response (as always) is with scripture – Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only. How do we serve other gods? By spending the bulk of our time and/or energy in service to others – spouse, children, friends, boss, ministry – and pushing our time with God to the bottom or even eliminating it altogether. Do you have days like that? Too busy to spend time with Him or even think about Him? Or maybe your god is yourself. Do you think of only doing what feels good/right to you, without much regard for God or others?
No idols – John admonishes us in I John 5:21 – Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. Paul says in Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. The Message Bible translates Colossians this way – And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That’s a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God.
Most of us don’t have wooden or metal statues sitting in shrines in our homes or neighborhoods. How would you define the word “idol”? Webster says ‘any object of ardent [passionate, enthusiastic, zealous, eager] or excessive devotion or admiration. Or, a false notion or idea that causes errors in thinking or reasoning.’ So what can become an idol for us? TV, hobby, social media, money, people, religion…. Virtually anything is capable of becoming an idol for us.
Don’t misuse the name of the Lord – The Message Bible translates it No using the name of God, your God, in curses or silly banter; God won’t put up with the irreverent use of His name. Matthew 6:9 is Jesus’ response to His disciples asking how to pray. Part of His example uses the words ‘hallowed be Your name’.
Hallowed means ‘regarding or honoring as holy.’ Biblical Jews considered God’s name so holy that they wouldn’t say it for any reason. In what ways do we misuse His name? How many times a day do you hear people, including Christians, say the phrase ‘Oh my God’, or just ’God’? Do you? Maybe it’s become so normal you don’t even realize you’re doing it. We are only to use His name when talking to Him, or about Him.
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy – Cease work. Rest. Remember God – what He is and what He’s done. The Pharisees made up their own laws regarding the Sabbath which were very strict and included no form of exertion whatsoever – whether it involved food, rescuing cattle or healing. Jesus addressed this issue several times. Once in Luke 13:10-17 when He healed a woman, another was in Matthew 12:1-8 when He and His disciples were gathering grain because they were hungry, and were confronted by the Pharisees. Jesus said, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.’
What did Jesus mean? What was God’s original intent? Should we work on Sunday? Should we use it to catch up on the chores we didn’t get done the other six days of the week? Just what is acceptable and unacceptable on the Sabbath? I think the key is in the beginning – cease work. Rest. Remember God. If not on Sunday, when?
Honor your father & mother – Matthew 15:4-9 finds Jesus addressing the issue of the fifth commandment by pointing out its misuse by the Pharisees & teachers of the Law. “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ he is not to ‘honor his father’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; for their teachings are but rules taught by men.”
How do we honor or dishonor our parents today? Do we continue to allow an abusive parent to have their way? Should we pursue parents who have abandoned us? Are we obligated to support parents who continually squander their resources or finances? Hmmmm . . . These are some tough questions.
Before we try to answer these questions, we should know the definition of the word ‘honor’. Honor goes hand-in-hand with respect and dignity. Respect means ‘due regard for feelings, wishes rights or traditions’.
Don’t murder – Jesus addresses this topic specifically in Matthew 5:21-22. “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.” OOOO! OUCH! That shines a whole different light on this one. As we smugly sit around thinking this is one commandment we don’t have to worry about! Is there anyone in your life you’re angry with – maybe for years?
Don’t commit adultery – Jesus also addressed this one in Matthew 5:27. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Another hard hit! And yes, ladies, this applies to us as well. Just maybe not as often! What about that guy at work who’s so sympathetic or understanding when we feel our own husband is not? What about a male friend you spend considerable time with? Maybe you don’t have feelings of lust, but what about him? What about the hurting woman who calls her pastor constantly? What about the good looking guys we see every day on TV, internet, advertisements? Recent statistics say an increasing number of women are involved in some form of pornography. How many of you are old enough to remember the uproar President Jimmy Carter caused when he admitted that he had had lustful thoughts in his heart? People thought that outrageously ridiculous since he never acted on them. And yet a mere 20 years later, many people believed President Bill Clinton actually acting on his was fine. And another 20 years later, I wonder if it would even be an issue for the public to consider?
And what about our part in causing lustful thoughts? How are men to avoid this when so many women dress for just that purpose? If you’re a Christian, you need to be cognizant of how you dress and act. I can’t even tell you how many women – of all ages – I’ve seen in church wearing inappropriate clothing. And that’s just in church. And what about men who work out and intentionally walk around in next to nothing to show off their bodies? Or either sex, intentionally working their charms in order to cause another to lust after them?
Don’t steal – Paul has this to say to the Romans in 2:21-24 ‘You, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?’ Then he lists other sins, and ends with vs. 24. ‘God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.’ Which means what? Well, first, there’s that weird word ‘blasphemed’. To understand the sentence, you need to know what that word means. Blaspheme means to slander, insult the honor of, injure the reputation of, attack, say untruths about. If, as Christians, we claim that stealing is wrong, but then do it ourselves, we injure God’s reputation.
So just what is stealing? It’s taking something that doesn’t belong to you. What all does that encompass? How about that pen that found its way to your home from work and was never returned? What about the days when you’re just not motivated to work so you sit around and talk, play computer games or waste time? How about making a personal copy without asking? What about the tie your husband needs for just a few hours, so you buy it and then return it the next day? What about the extra change you received or the item the cashier missed charging you for but you didn’t mention it, or don’t discover it until you’re in the parking lot? In other words, stealing encompasses a lot. It’s not just robbing banks or breaking into a house, or embezzling large sums of money from a company. You can make it even more simple. Don’t touch things that don’t belong to you.
Don’t give false testimony – In Matthew 15:18-20, Jesus says ‘But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man unclean’. Does gossip fall under false testimony? Have you ever repeated something you’ve heard ‘through the grapevine’? How can you be certain it’s true if you didn’t hear it first hand? Do you make assumptions based on your perceptions and then share them with others? You see a mother giving in or over-reacting to her child’s bad behavior. Do you tell others what a bad mom you saw? What if her husband recently died or she just discovered she has breast cancer? Would that change your opinion? What if you were pressured by someone into telling a lie or even just not telling the truth? False is anything that’s untrue. False testimony is sharing things that you don’t know for a fact are true. Remember, it was on the basis of false testimony that Jesus was crucified and Stephen was martyred!
Don’t covet – – Paul addresses this one in Romans 7:7b-8a when he says, ‘For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, ‘Do not covet.’ But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire.’ In the Message Bible, James 4:1-2 says ‘Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don’t have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn’t yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.’
The simple definition of covet from Webster is, ‘long for with envy’. Do you ever covet? What kinds of things can/do we covet? (children, husband, finances, fashion sense, home, lifestyle, faith, spiritual connection…) It doesn’t even have to be anything in particular, just someone else’s other than your own. Or have you ever said ‘why can’t I/you be like…..’? and meant it sincerely, to yourself or to someone else?
Paul addresses our sinful natures in Romans 1:18-32 with a pretty extensive list. I’m not going to quote all that, but it ends with, “Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” Yet another sin we don’t think of today – approving of those who practice sin.
I think in all this, we see that Jesus has set a higher standard than even God’s original Law required. We cannot go through life thinking that we are above committing these sins because we’ve not broken most of these laws like murder, or cheating on our spouse, or robbing a bank or bowing down to some statue. Because of our perception of what sin is or is not, we often go through life convinced that we are practically perfect. We don’t commit the ‘obvious’ sins, so we’re fine. We go through entire days where we can’t think of a single thing to confess. At least, I know I do.
We must continue to better ourselves in our walk, recognizing and confessing our sins and becoming more and more Christ-like and the only way to do that is to become aware of sin and sincerely work to change and improve. Jesus says, “Follow Me.” In I Corinthians 11:1 Paul says, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” Oh, that we could one day dare to say the same!
I guess it’s okay that my lesson was pretty long today, because we did nothing else except rest up from the past two days. 😊