Such a well written and timely piece. I’m reminded of something that a pretty well known Roman Catholic psychiatrist talks about often. He hosts a daily call in radio show. He’s mentioned often that during therapy sessions, he observes that sadly, most Christians only believe in sin as a theory or an idea. That a key barrier to healing of self, marriages, family relationships, etc, is failure to believe that we sin in reality and in specifics. I’ve heard him say several times….”So, I’m in a marriage counseling session and I ask the question: ‘Do either of you believe you are sinners?’ And they almost always say: ‘of course, we all sin and need forgiveness’. Then I say: ‘which sins specifically are you guilty of and need to stop doing to save this marriage?’. I typically get no response at best and at worst, angry backlash that quickly turn to ‘yea but he…..’ “
I think his reflections as a psychiatrist in practice reveal what Jonathan is pointing to in this article; sin as only a doctrine or a platonic theory. When you read the Bible, the Apostles, the Prophets and Jesus (the foundation and Cornerstone of the church), address sin in specific actions (or lack of actions). Sin isn’t an idea, doctrine or theory. It’s a real thing done by real people.
When we stop believing that we each have real sins to repent of and need Holy Spirit regeneration to overcome, we become stiff necked Israelites. Are we still His people? Yes. But follow the pattern of Scripture……severe discipline comes if we plug our ears to hear about our specific offenses and transgressions.
During this Lent season, may the Holy Spirit grant us true hearts of repentance and instill in us a true desire to change.
"Repentance is not a weapon of public shaming or a ritual of moral theatrics. It is the posture that tells the truth. It is the acceptance that we are bent, that we drift, that we wound and are wounded, and that without turning, we harden.
To call a man to repent is not to crush him but to invite him back into alignment with what is alive and true." This is written so well. Thanks for the work you put into this.
Trying times my dear Brother in Christ. It becomes dark and then His light shines. He is our propitiation.
O Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, look on us and have mercy on us;
You yourself are both Victim and Priest, you both Reward and Redeemer, keep safe from all evil those you have redeemed,
O Savior of the world. - Iranaeus
Such a well written and timely piece. I’m reminded of something that a pretty well known Roman Catholic psychiatrist talks about often. He hosts a daily call in radio show. He’s mentioned often that during therapy sessions, he observes that sadly, most Christians only believe in sin as a theory or an idea. That a key barrier to healing of self, marriages, family relationships, etc, is failure to believe that we sin in reality and in specifics. I’ve heard him say several times….”So, I’m in a marriage counseling session and I ask the question: ‘Do either of you believe you are sinners?’ And they almost always say: ‘of course, we all sin and need forgiveness’. Then I say: ‘which sins specifically are you guilty of and need to stop doing to save this marriage?’. I typically get no response at best and at worst, angry backlash that quickly turn to ‘yea but he…..’ “
I think his reflections as a psychiatrist in practice reveal what Jonathan is pointing to in this article; sin as only a doctrine or a platonic theory. When you read the Bible, the Apostles, the Prophets and Jesus (the foundation and Cornerstone of the church), address sin in specific actions (or lack of actions). Sin isn’t an idea, doctrine or theory. It’s a real thing done by real people.
When we stop believing that we each have real sins to repent of and need Holy Spirit regeneration to overcome, we become stiff necked Israelites. Are we still His people? Yes. But follow the pattern of Scripture……severe discipline comes if we plug our ears to hear about our specific offenses and transgressions.
During this Lent season, may the Holy Spirit grant us true hearts of repentance and instill in us a true desire to change.
May Jesus grant this for the sake of His Beloved!
"Repentance is not a weapon of public shaming or a ritual of moral theatrics. It is the posture that tells the truth. It is the acceptance that we are bent, that we drift, that we wound and are wounded, and that without turning, we harden.
To call a man to repent is not to crush him but to invite him back into alignment with what is alive and true." This is written so well. Thanks for the work you put into this.