Oh my goodness. Where to start in 250 words or less about the topic of sin?
This is a prickly word and you may have already tensed up.
Maybe we start here: God loves us. God wants to be in relationship with us. God will always love us.
In Christianity a general description of sin might be any way in which we distance ourselves from God.
This might look like us thinking highly of ourselves (like we don’t need God), turning to someone other than God as our focus (like we don’t trust God), concentrating on the accumulation of power and pleasure (making an idol out of wealth), or separating ourselves from the rest of creation (rejecting God in the face of another).
But somehow, we’ve come to believe that “if I sin I am a bad person.” Sin has become a word to avoid. And fair enough. There have been many religious voices who have made sweeping declarations about what is a sin and what is not a sin. And some of these declarations have been fatal for people. In our efforts to follow the will of God we have at times led ourselves and others astray.
Sin is a big word. A tough word. A prickly word.
My hope is that we can explore the essence of the word, let go of some of its baggage, and maybe … just maybe … find a more helpful understanding of the word and concept.
May we sit in God’s grace and love as we try this on Sunday.
See you Sunday!
Julie.