What is sin to you personally

[joeb]

I guess by that I mean how do you see sin being expressed in every day life? What is its essence to you?

To me sin is that very strange destructive thing that would cause parents to want to beat the ability of their child to think independently out him. It's the insane jealousy of a brother whose jealously causes him to hate his brother without cause. It's the coldness of a parent who will spend his money on drugs rather than feed and clothe his child.

Those are just three very obvious things I see as how sin is expressed in our world today. I can think of many, many more. Each of them are destructive to those around us. But, even more than that, sin is self-destructive. It is expressed in the myriad of ways we humans harm our own selves with our bad habits, greed, lust, short-sighted thinking, etc....

I see everything negative in our society today as having sin as its root cause. As an addict I see it much like an addiction as it has a powerful pull on us and its end is self-destruction and death.

I guess the reason I started this thread is because I sort of sense not everyone sees sin the way I do and I'm interested in understanding how it is that we all see the same thing, as everyone has their own paradigm through which they see things.

[fccool]

Sin is merely a super-spiritual shortcut for pointing out improper behavior, or at least the behavior that's believed to be improper. That's why it gets ridiculously confusing at times.

For example, improper behavior does not have magic powers. It can't cause earthquakes, for example. So, I find it puzzling when people blame natural disasters on "sin". Sin is not some vague magic force.

[debbym]

i am in the process of learning what my sin is. everyday i get a little more understanding and awareness. As i realize how patient God is with me as i learn, so i can in turn be fully patient with others, and trust their whole lives to Gods constant care.

i have recognized the operation of fear, self justification... and whatever leads me to excuse disregarding a boundary.

the ten commandments are a brief simplified description of these boundaries. But the relational application of these laws is described in the sermon on the mount. it is much deeper.

sin is breaking the boundaries, righteousness is living within them.

the boundaries are the laws by which every thing works. all the laws of nature and the laws of health are boundaries to live within. Gratitude actually operates by a law, or principle which is another word for them.

there are infinite laws in a way, but every law is within a higher law, until there really is only two laws that every other law falls into.

Love to God and Love to your fellow man.

Love respects every boundary, even the boundary of another person's choice to not love, or to not accept love.

so sin is in a large degree or a small degree what is unloving toward God and other's including myself... neglect, abuse, unforgiveness... etc.

because God owns all righteousness, all sin, in a clear way is against God only. and God is perfectly forgiving and only works to lead me to turn away from all forms of sin and turn to Him. God wants me to live the most blessed and abundant life i can, and in turn bless all those around me.

every day i am amazed at that love, and that love alone leads me to reach for more of His love and to not give up as i realize how far i am from being God's ideal. The sin problem only exists in a greater framework of infinite mercy, grace, kindness, patience, forbearance, and love. "wherever sin abounds grace much more abounds" is the scripture that speaks to this.

[olger]

A worthy prayer is "Show me my sin, Lord."

[olger]

Sin is merely a super-spiritual shortcut for pointing out improper behavior, or at least the behavior that's believed to be improper. That's why it gets ridiculously confusing at times.

For example, improper behavior does not have magic powers. It can't cause earthquakes, for example. So, I find it puzzling when people blame natural disasters on "sin". Sin is not some vague magic force.

Is truth external, universal and absolute, or is it auto-developed?

"That may be true for you, but it isn't for me..."

I have a problem with this approach to reality ^^^

[phkrause]

I guess by that I mean how do you see sin being expressed in every day life? What is its essence to you?

To me sin is that very strange destructive thing that would cause parents to want to beat the ability of their child to think independently out him. It's the insane jealousy of a brother whose jealously causes him to hate his brother without cause. It's the coldness of a parent who will spend his money on drugs rather than feed and clothe his child.

Those are just three very obvious things I see as how sin is expressed in our world today. I can think of many, many more. Each of them are destructive to those around us. But, even more than that, sin is self-destructive. It is expressed in the myriad of ways we humans harm our own selves with our bad habits, greed, lust, short-sighted thinking, etc....

I see everything negative in our society today as having sin as its root cause. As an addict I see it much like an addiction as it has a powerful pull on us and its end is self-destruction and death.

I guess the reason I started this thread is because I sort of sense not everyone sees sin the way I do and I'm interested in understanding how it is that we all see the same thing, as everyone has their own paradigm through which they see things.

Interesting thoughts. For me I'm gonna have to think about this a little more. But all in all I do agree with your examples.

[Ted Oplinger]

To me, sin is not trusting the Word of God as opposed to another's counseling - whether it be mine own, or another's. That is the root issue of sin, as defined by the contrast between Genesis 2:16, 17 and Genesis 3:1-5.

All behavior flows from how we make that basic choice.

Blessings,

[phkrause]

To me, sin is not trusting the Word of God as opposed to another's counseling - whether it be mine own, or another's. That is the root issue of sin, as defined by the contrast between Genesis 2:16, 17 and Genesis 3:1-5.

All behavior flows from how we make that basic choice.

Blessings,

I like that Ted, that's a very good thought. I have no problem with that.

[joeb]

i am in the process of learning what my sin is. everyday i get a little more understanding and awareness. As i realize how patient God is with me as i learn, so i can in turn be fully patient with others, and trust their whole lives to Gods constant care.

i have recognized the operation of fear, self justification... and whatever leads me to excuse disregarding a boundary.

the ten commandments are a brief simplified description of these boundaries. But the relational application of these laws is described in the sermon on the mount. it is much deeper.

sin is breaking the boundaries, righteousness is living within them.

the boundaries are the laws by which every thing works. all the laws of nature and the laws of health are boundaries to live within. Gratitude actually operates by a law, or principle which is another word for them.

there are infinite laws in a way, but every law is within a higher law, until there really is only two laws that every other law falls into.

Love to God and Love to your fellow man.

Love respects every boundary, even the boundary of another person's choice to not love, or to not accept love.

so sin is in a large degree or a small degree what is unloving toward God and other's including myself... neglect, abuse, unforgiveness... etc.

because God owns all righteousness, all sin, in a clear way is against God only. and God is perfectly forgiving and only works to lead me to turn away from all forms of sin and turn to Him. God wants me to live the most blessed and abundant life i can, and in turn bless all those around me.

every day i am amazed at that love, and that love alone leads me to reach for more of His love and to not give up as i realize how far i am from being God's ideal. The sin problem only exists in a greater framework of infinite mercy, grace, kindness, patience, forbearance, and love. "wherever sin abounds grace much more abounds" is the scripture that speaks to this.

Outstanding post, debbym. I'm really glad you posted. Just one more thought along the same lines as you posted. Did you realize, I didn't until just the other day, that the Golden Rule sums up the law and the prophets, all on its own? Jesus said so.

[joeb]

Sin is merely a super-spiritual shortcut for pointing out improper behavior, or at least the behavior that's believed to be improper. That's why it gets ridiculously confusing at times.

For example, improper behavior does not have magic powers. It can't cause earthquakes, for example. So, I find it puzzling when people blame natural disasters on "sin". Sin is not some vague magic force.

[phkrause]

God is the source of all life and power, thus separation from Him causes all things to break down, to fail. We see it in everything around us.

Absolutely!