Sin - Part 1 Contrasting the Bible and Culture on Sin

The Culture believes in sin!

It is important to talk about sin in Church. Because people talk about sin outside of church! They probably don't use the religious word "sin", but there is an assumption that some things are objectively bad. According to an Ellison Research Survey, 87% of Americans believe in the concept of sin.[1]
When surveyed over different sins, those 87% never all agreed on a particular sin. For example, these are the percentages of people who believed the following were actually sins:
  • Adultery (81%)
  • Racism (74%)
  • Swearing (46%)
  • Harming the Environment (41%)
  • Getting Drunk (41%)
  • not taking proper care of your body (35%)
  • Gambling (30%)
NB: the 87% never all agreed on a particular sin. This means at least 6% believe that sin exists. But adultery is not one of those sins. 

What is the difference between how the church and culture view sin?

I think they answer the following questions differently and this will help us get to the core, of why we disagree:
  • Question 1 - Who do we primarily sin against?
  • Question 2 - What are the different categories of sins? Or different ways we sin?
  • Question 3 Can anyone truly know what is a sin and what is not?
This is how a non Christian answers:
  • Answer 1 - We sin against people, and ourselves (for some)
  • Answer 2 - Our actions, and words. 
  • Answer 3 - 87% who believe in sin, probably think some are obvious, like murder or rape, but no one can claim to have a full list. Since a lot is unclear, it is arrogant, and oppressive to try to tell someone that what they are doing is wrong, if they don't think it is. 
This is how a Christian responds
  • Answer 1 - We sin against God, against other people, and against ourselves.
  • Answer 2 - We sin with our actions, words but also thoughts and our very nature.
  • Answer 3 -  God knows. He has revealed to us in scripture what is right and wrong. We want to align our lives with his will as much as possible.   

Take away's:

  • The concept of sin, is generally accepted outside and inside the church. Asking the following questions help us see how we differ in opinion:
    • Question 1 - Who do we primarily sin against?
    • Question 2 - What are the different categories of sins? Or different ways we sin?
    • Question 3 Can anyone truly know what is a sin and what is not?
  • With the answers to these questions 
    • We have set up a framework to talk about the Christian doctrine of Sin. 
    • We can engage with people outside the church
      • We know where they are coming from. 
      • We understand why they disagree with us. 

[1] http://www.albertmohler.com/2008/03/20/sin-by-survey-americans-say-what-they-think/

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