Why Is Sin Sinful?

Have you ever known anyone who didn’t like the idea that a specific sin was called sin?

You might have heard someone say, “I don’t see anything wrong with it.” That may be because of simple ignorance. (Ignorance just means that a person is without knowledge.)

Sometimes people acknowledge sin, but explain that it was actually the right thing to do. For example, they lie to protect a friend. The sin was for a good reason, so it is dismissed without the normal consequences. This is called justification. Something bad is turned into something good by using lots of words.

At other times people explain why a sin is not really sin. They may claim that they were forced into a situation or they were born with a genetic tendency, so they should not be held responsible. This is called rationalization. It is another use of lots of words to explain one’s sin.

Sin is still sin…

• Even if a person uses a different standard;
• Even if a person is ignorant;
• Even if a person justifies the sin; and
• Even if a person rationalizes the sin.

Sometimes people speak and act as if God arbitrarily concocted a list of things to call sin. It is like odd house rules that some children have grown up with. For example, my grandfather would not allow his children to use a regular deck of playing cards or dice. I knew a fellow who was forbidden to shoot a game of pool. Another friend was told to never play pinball (a pre-video game device).

While some or all of these may sound arbitrary, I know that there were legitimate reasons. Yet, unless you understanding the reasons, the prohibition of these activities sounds silly with no meaningful connection to reality: “How could there possibly be anything wrong with rolling dice!?”

Some people see various sins in the Bible the same way—arbitrary. So, they are likely to deny the sinfulness of sin, plead ignorance, justify or rationalize the sin. However, the Apostle Paul reveals something about all sin. He wrote that all ungodliness and unrighteousness (sin) suppresses the truth. (Romans 1:18)

Why is sin sinful?
Sin is a lie against truth. Sin opposes reality.
What does that mean?

Sin stands in opposition to the nature of God and His work in creation. At the end of the creation sequence God saw that it was very good. (Genesis 1:31) You might say that God and creation were in harmony. Although God had created something that was inferior to Him, it was not bad or evil, but compatible.

However, when Adam and Eve sinned, they took it upon themselves to decide what was good for them. They suppressed the truth that existed by virtue of God’s existence and creation. They elevated themselves above God.

When Cain killed Abel, he placed himself in the seat of judgment over another human being. He made a decision to take a life, yet without having been the one who gave life. His action suppressed the truth of the sanctity of life and the truth that God is creator of life and judge of all.

People often become angry when sin is revealed because they desire to do the thing they desire. They selfishly wish to be their own god. So, in one way or another, all sin suppresses the truth of God and His design of the created world.

Sin is a lie against the truth.

Mark Stinnett

March 26, 2023

Disobedience to Parents: Why is Sin Sinful?

Because I was the preacher, the request came to me. A grandmother requested that someone visit her grandson who was in the county jail.

He had committed a crime. And yet, no one faulted that grandmother for her love and concern for her grandson. Even though he was in jail, and she was not blind to his crime, she did not want to characterize him in any other way.: “He’s a good boy,” she said.

Sometimes parental love casts a veil over the eyes. Some parents do not see their children through the lens of reality. Regardless of what they do or say, the parent overlooks or minimizes their children’s bad attitudes and behavior.

I know of no parents who want to admit that their children do wrong as they grow older. I’d rather address this subject in general terms by saying, We all know it’s true; we are all sinners. (That includes my kids without naming them.)

Parents of younger children need to take notice. There will be a time at which each of your children will be old enough to be held personally accountable to God for his/her sin. So, as much as we do not like to think about it, we need to think about it. Our kids grow up to be sinners.

Solomon encouraged his sons over and over to listen! For example:

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

—Proverbs 1:8

Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old. 

 —Proverbs 23:22

Turning to the New Testament we find:

Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.

—Colossians 3:20 (See also Ephesians 6:1.)

With these and many other positive teachings comes a strong admonition from the Apostle Paul. He reminded parents and children that disobedience to parents is an ungodly behavior that will result in God’s wrathful judgment. (Romans 1:30 and 2 Timothy 3:2).

Consistent disobedience in a child is a sign that God’s authority structure in the home is misunderstood or simply not honored. In too many homes, far too many Christian homes, children are allowed to dictate the terms of obedience. Through temper tantrums, angry attitudes, disrespect, whining, and manipulative techniques children turn the tables making their parents obedient to them.

And yet, it is reasonable for children to be obedient to their parents:

• Parents are better positioned (job, finances) to provide for their children’s needs.
• Parents are better equipped physically to care for their children.
• Parents are smarter (at least for a while).
• Parents are more experienced in life.

Aside from simple reasoning we must understand that God designed the home and assigned parents authority over their children.

When God’s authority structure is followed children learn how to respect authority (another of God’s expectations). But of utmost importance, children learn to honor God’s authority.

Why is disobedience to parents sinful?

When children are disobedient to their parents they have taken authority away from their parents. Both children and parents are living a lie against reality. By not upholding God’s authority structure in the home they have disregard God and His divine authority.

Mark Stinnett

March 19, 2023

Stealing: Why Is Sin Sinful?

The question sounds almost silly: Why is stealing sinful?

Everyone knows that it is wrong to steal. It is as if God programmed us with that knowledge. Just watch little children. Even before they can talk, if someone takes a toy from a little child, there will almost always be a negative reaction. No one wants something they possess to be taken from them. No one!

Do we really have to be taught that stealing is wrong?

Literally carved into stone was the eighth commandment: You shall not steal. Even though we are encoded from birth with the knowledge that stealing is wrong, God thought it important to tell His chosen people that it was a sin to steal.

Sometimes we minimize the seriousness of stealing by considering the value of the thing stolen. Stealing a car IS much more serious than stealing a hammer. Not only is the car more expensive to replace, it serves a greater function than the hammer. However, there is no moral distinction between petty theft and grand theft. Whether classed as a misdemeanor theft or felony theft, wrong is still wrong.

Some may rationalize taking small items of little value such as taking a few grapes to eat while grocery shopping (and not buying grapes), or taking office supplies (that won’t be noticed) from work. Yet, the grapes are stolen. The office supplies are stolen. Rationalization is a way of explaining why the stealing was not really bad.

Sometimes people justify their theft. “Because of all the hard work I put in, the company owes me...” a stapler, a tape dispenser, or a package of TP. Justification is a way of explaining why the wrong action is actually a right action.

Men do not despise a thief if he steals To satisfy himself when he is hungry; But when he is found, he must repay sevenfold; He must give all the substance of his house. 

—Proverbs 6:30-31

Rationalization and justification (as well as sympathy and understanding) do not change the reality of stealing.

Sometimes people steal without taking anything tangible. That’s why there are laws dealing with patents, trademarks, and copyright. When people make copies of materials without making a purchase, it is theft unless permission is given from the producer of that material. Making copies of written material, music, movies, software, etc. that deprive the originator of making a profit is just another way of stealing. No one deserves a pirated copy of a song just because the song artist is a bazillionaire.

Cheating is another way of stealing without taking something tangible.

So, what is God’s expectation?

If you’ve been stealing, stop stealing. 

Or, just don’t steal. 

Is that all?

He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. 

—Ephesians 4:28

The solution to stealing is not merely to stop stealing, but rather, to work and earn an income and share with those in need.

Why is stealing sinful? 

All forms of stealing present something that belongs to another as if it belongs to you. Stealing is a lie against reality and it opposes the very nature of God.

Mark Stinnett

March 12, 2023

Adultery: Why Is Sin Sinful?

“Thou shalt not commit adultery.” 

That is the seventh of The Ten Commandments from the old King James Version. For many, that wording sounds holy. Forceful. Absolute!

Why is adultery sinful?

Our word adultery came into the English language from a Latin verb adulterare meaning literally, to alter, but also used to mean, to corrupt. (This Latin word is not connected to the English word adult; nor is it connected to the Greek term that it translates.)

The Greek term for adultery was very specific in its meaning. It referred to a sexual relationship between people who were married, but not to each other. Remember that while the New Testament was written in Greek, the Greek language was used hundreds of years before Christ and across multiple cultures. So, this meaning was not limited to the New Testament.

While every culture forbids adultery, the rules are different and may vary between men and women. For example, at one time ancient Greeks considered adultery to be a secret sexual relationship with a woman without the permission of her master. In many cultures men have been allowed to have sexual relationships with non-married women. Only if a married woman was involved were there consequences.

In early times consequences were carried out by family members since adultery was considered a violation of family. This was true in Roman society until laws were passed that made adultery a civil offense with consequences carried out by the legal establishment. Consequences varied from fines to revenge (by family members) to death.

Among some groups, cultural norms or laws required the husband whose wife was an adulteress to divorce her (or put her to death). In most cases cultural norms and laws were stricter regarding women since married women were often considered property. They were therefore bound to absolute fidelity in the marriage.

By the time of Christ infidelity among both husbands and wives was common in Roman society. So was divorce.

For the Jews, as with others, adultery involved sexual intimacy only, and divorce was allowed, though the acceptable reasons were debated. Recall that Jesus reminded the Jews that Moses demanded a certificate of divorce because of the hardness of their hearts (Matthew 19:7-8). In other words, husbands mistreated their wives by discarding them. So, to protect women a legal certificate was required. Men had to have a legitimate reason for divorce.

Jesus ended the debate by pointing back to creation: “But from the Beginning it has not been this way.” Jesus taught fidelity in marriage for both the husband and the wife.

Ideally marriage should reflect the very character of God. The words fidelity, loyalty, commitment, faithfulness and devotion describe God. That means that in His relationships God does not show partiality. He is not fickle in his commitment. He does not tire of love. He does not quickly grow impatient or angry. In order to preserve a relationship God is willing to forgive.

God does not quit a relationship. Even when His wife (Israel) was unfaithful, He was patient and tried to woo her back. (Hosea 2)

Why is adultery sin? Adultery violates faithfulness and commitment, the very character of God. Adultery is sin because it is a lie against the truth of God’s divine nature.

Mark Stinnett

March 5, 2023