So, how should Christians address sin in the world? The question is clearly too broad to answer in a sweeping sentence or two. As far as this discussion goes, I have broken the topic down into two parts. The first is how Christians should deal with sin we see in those around us, most specifically non-Christians we know or have contact with. We just finished up a two part sermon series on this. You can find both sermons on our website here. The second element is how we deal with sin conceptually in society, or sin that is brought before us through our societal media and culture.
To deal with how we should address sin, we have to deal with the topic of judgment. It has been my experience today that the most common response to the question of how we deal with sin is that we must address what Jesus says about judgment. This was the first part of the series above, so I would direct you to that sermon for an examination of Matthew 7. Because these two topics are interchangeable, Biblically, it would be very helpful to listen to this sermon to gain some perspective for the rest of this article. You can find that sermon here.
Once the issue of judgment is understood and factored in, how do we respond to cultural views of sin? Fear, humility, or uncertainty are no excuse to deny the reality of God’s Law, or the consequences of violating it. What God says is right and wrong is right and wrong.
What would our intentions be in holding up the Biblical standard of sin? Should we try to reform society? Should we try to create the most sinless society possible, even if the people within that society don't know or embrace Christ? I don't think that should be our end goal. We are not talking about legislating spirituality here, or shaming people into better actions. However, making clear what separates people from God should be something we care greatly about. Without understanding the bad news of our spiritual condition, how will we understand the Good News of the Gospel? While we are not striving to create a godly society out of people who don't know God, we do want people to understand their condition, and the sin which so easily entangles them.
Societally, we in America have gone from a people who, in our past, were fairly well educated in the Biblical view of sin and righteousness, to a people who see themselves as “moving past” such labels as sin. Europe has fully made this journey, ahead of us. Today, many of the elements of God’s Law have been summarily dismissed in many European countries, and people would be surprised to hear that they are somehow seen as wrong by anyone. Christians in those cultures regularly lament how hard it is to talk about salvation, because the people don't feel particularly entangled in sin. We in America are moving quickly in that direction.
What is the Christian’s role who lives in a society like ours?
It is impossible for me to address how “Christians” should react to any particular demonstration of sin in our society. Each of us is in a different place in society, and has different spheres of influence. However, there is one thing we can say. We are to be moved to believe and to act based on God’s Word, and not on societal beliefs, or our fears of those around us.
Far too often, Christians who are honest will say that they don’t want to confront sin because of fear or discomfort. It is clearly true that the Christian who stands up and calls sin what it is has a great likelihood of being ridiculed, or at the least, will be thought of as bad, old fashioned, or intolerant. I believe that there is a great deal of shame among Christians today, regarding God’s Law. Few Christians want to speak openly about it. In fact, whole churches have decided to do away with discussing sin all together. I suspect that many Christians don't want to hold God's Law up for two reasons. We are afraid of how others will see us if we do, and we ourselves don’t hold it in the high regard it deserves. This is a bad, and even dangerous place to be.
The reality of sin is an integral part of the Gospel message. The Good News is not that Jesus came. Because He was the rightful and legitimate Judge, that could easily have been bad news for me. The Good News is that Jesus came, lived a perfect life, died for MY SIN, and rose from the dead. If I am not keenly aware that my sinfulness is an abomination to God, and that it causes me to be spiritually dead, separated from God, I have no need for Jesus. His coming is not necessarily good news. It is simply news. The fact is that we need a Savior from sin, not from dysfunction, or more commonly today, from mistakes. Scripture does not say that God hates when we accidentally say two plus two equals five - a mistake. It says He hates our sin. This is the truth that we as Christians have, that we know. Wanting to hide that truth is on the same level as wanting to hide Christ Himself.
Motive becomes a central key to knowing how to respond to sinfulness. Acting (or not acting) out of fear of looking bad to others is wrong. At the same time, acting out of a desire to exalt ourselves by pointing out the weakness in others is equally wrong (see above sermon on Matthew 7). Finally, not holding up God’s Law because we ourselves are not perfect may well be wrong.
If asked at work or school, “What do you think about this Tiger Woods thing,” how should you respond? Our response needs to be led by our knowledge of how God feels about such things. What Tiger did was wrong. It is what God calls sin. This sinfulness is in all of us, including and especially me, but that does not lessen the sinfulness in front of us. What Tiger needs is what I need. He needs forgiveness from that sin from God Himself, and He needs the Spirit of God inside of him, so that He has at least the opportunity to walk in God’s righteousness, and not his flesh.
How should we respond to sin in society? With the humility of a sinner who’s flesh is as weak as anyone else’s. With the certainty of son or daughter of God, who understands how our Father feels about sin. With wisdom and the leading of the Spirit of God. Not afraid. Not arrogant. Like everything else, it is not about us, it is about Him. Glorify God in all that you do and say.
