OK, I spent (some might argue “wasted”) an entire week on sharing about ecclesiology from Alan Hirsch's book, The Forgotten Ways. I hope that was helpful for all of you. The exercise was therapeutic for me. But let’s get immensely practical now…
What do we do about sin? I’m not talking about other people’s sin. I mean mine; I mean yours. And before you say that you have none, be reminded of what John wrote:
So, now that we know that everyone sins, we have no more need for pretending, right? Yet, pretend is exactly what we do. Pretend and hide.
Watch this video about one man’s struggle with sin, but please finish reading the post once you’re finished:
Could you see the insidious nature of sin in the video? There is first an allure to sin. Even what our conscience would warn against, it calls to a need within. And before you smugly brush this all aside because your temptation is different than Nate’s, know that this is the nature of all sin.
You see, sin is more than the bad choices you make. There is a spiritual dimension. Sin is alive! It has consciousness. And it would have you and me. Look at how the Lord warned Cain:
Cornelius Plantinga wrote a fantastic, scholarly book on the nature of sin, Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be. In it he describes how sin works in our lives. First, it allures us. When you are in a vulnerable place, your enemy knows and prepares a trap. But he’s not done once you bite. Then he begins a campaign of lies meant to drive you away from redemption. The lies are pretty standard and revolve around justification and/or acceptance. He may tell you that you deserve to do whatever you are doing because you have been mistreated or denied. Whether or not you hear that lie, he will surely tell you that you need to hide your sin from others, especially strong believers who are personally committed to helping you grow in the Lord. The lie is that you will be shunned and rejected. The truth, God’s truth for His church, is that you will be held accountable and helped toward victory and restoration. And finally, if you succumb to the second attack, the enemy makes you an apostle of death, encouraging you to drag others into your sin.
So, that was a lot of theory on sin and I promised to make this practical. Thanks for holding me accountable! What does this mean for us as Christians who are choosing to partake of Christian community? It means that community is your highest priority when dealing with sin, yours or someone in your circle of influence.
Certainly, the Bible is the source of truth, but it is only in communion with committed saints that the enemy is thwarted. So, do you ever feel the tug away from community? That’s the time when you should be praying fervently that the Lord would show you the dark desires of your heart that are trying to isolate you from the support you need. And, is there someone in your group that is pulling away? Pursue him! Find out what’s up in a loving and encouraging way. Become a safe place for that person and offer to walk through his dark valley with him.
I have over a decade of small group experience that says that a failing marriage sees withdrawal from group attendance shortly before disaster. Connect with the couple who can’t seem to prioritize group time or who interact on a superficial level. Connect with the spouse who withdraws into self or work or hobbies. Connect with the teen who lives behind a shut door and comes out only with earbuds inserted or who sits alone at church on Sunday morning.
Read more of the 1 John 1 passage and see the importance of avoiding isolation and committing to live “in the light” and notice that the fellowship that follows is not limited to between you and the Lord, but involves other believers. It’s God’s design; seek to live it!
What do we do about sin? I’m not talking about other people’s sin. I mean mine; I mean yours. And before you say that you have none, be reminded of what John wrote:
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8
So, now that we know that everyone sins, we have no more need for pretending, right? Yet, pretend is exactly what we do. Pretend and hide.
Watch this video about one man’s struggle with sin, but please finish reading the post once you’re finished:
Could you see the insidious nature of sin in the video? There is first an allure to sin. Even what our conscience would warn against, it calls to a need within. And before you smugly brush this all aside because your temptation is different than Nate’s, know that this is the nature of all sin.
You see, sin is more than the bad choices you make. There is a spiritual dimension. Sin is alive! It has consciousness. And it would have you and me. Look at how the Lord warned Cain:
Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." Genesis 4:6-7
Cornelius Plantinga wrote a fantastic, scholarly book on the nature of sin, Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be. In it he describes how sin works in our lives. First, it allures us. When you are in a vulnerable place, your enemy knows and prepares a trap. But he’s not done once you bite. Then he begins a campaign of lies meant to drive you away from redemption. The lies are pretty standard and revolve around justification and/or acceptance. He may tell you that you deserve to do whatever you are doing because you have been mistreated or denied. Whether or not you hear that lie, he will surely tell you that you need to hide your sin from others, especially strong believers who are personally committed to helping you grow in the Lord. The lie is that you will be shunned and rejected. The truth, God’s truth for His church, is that you will be held accountable and helped toward victory and restoration. And finally, if you succumb to the second attack, the enemy makes you an apostle of death, encouraging you to drag others into your sin.
So, that was a lot of theory on sin and I promised to make this practical. Thanks for holding me accountable! What does this mean for us as Christians who are choosing to partake of Christian community? It means that community is your highest priority when dealing with sin, yours or someone in your circle of influence.
Certainly, the Bible is the source of truth, but it is only in communion with committed saints that the enemy is thwarted. So, do you ever feel the tug away from community? That’s the time when you should be praying fervently that the Lord would show you the dark desires of your heart that are trying to isolate you from the support you need. And, is there someone in your group that is pulling away? Pursue him! Find out what’s up in a loving and encouraging way. Become a safe place for that person and offer to walk through his dark valley with him.
I have over a decade of small group experience that says that a failing marriage sees withdrawal from group attendance shortly before disaster. Connect with the couple who can’t seem to prioritize group time or who interact on a superficial level. Connect with the spouse who withdraws into self or work or hobbies. Connect with the teen who lives behind a shut door and comes out only with earbuds inserted or who sits alone at church on Sunday morning.
Read more of the 1 John 1 passage and see the importance of avoiding isolation and committing to live “in the light” and notice that the fellowship that follows is not limited to between you and the Lord, but involves other believers. It’s God’s design; seek to live it!
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 1 John 1:5-10 (emphasis added)
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great post.. My fear is that most people see the video of Nate and say "well i haven't done that" Or "I could never do that" But the truth is that we are all sinners and this man's sin grieves God as much as one's overeating, or another's little white lies.. yes his earthly consequences seem greater than yours, but your eternal consequences are the same as his.. SO, what if we as a church stopped judging one another's failures and started offering the same hope, forgiveness and encouragement that our Father does..
ReplyDelete"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." If the Father can do that for each of us, why on earth can we not do that for one another.. let's get that right, and see as community grows.
Amen, Brother JT
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