The estimation of sin
It’s an amazing divergence that humanity has taken in defining God’s commandments for Him. The commencement of human transgression began when the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was just too enticing for Eve and Adam to leave alone. What a trivial temptation that may seem to be; yet it is no different with any violation of God’s commandment. When an indulgence is yielded to and the moment is over, just what is really left over to explain it all? In the tempted couple’s mind eating the Tree’s fruit was worth the risk; just what was the big deal anyways? It couldn’t be that great of an issue…but to God it was.
James 1:14-15 “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
Humanity has consistently attempted to re-define the Language of Sin and devise its own policy it seems. To facilitate this endeavor, Absolute Truth has to become obsolete and the Rule of Self-Interpretation will take its place. Nothing is allowed to be Definite; everything has to be Situational. What may apply to one is irrelevant to another. And so you see where this line of reasoning can lead to; what the Bible calls reprobate.
Some of these thoughts came to me as I read an article in the Saturday, October 1st edition of the Arlington Star Telegram. There was article written by an Ed Edelson about some neuroscientists that had been researching the brain structure of habitual liars. The article stated that pathological liars have a reason for being that way. It’s because they just happen to have more white matter than grey matter in their brains. This gives them a natural advantage in lying, as well as greater verbal skills because the white matter of the brain is where the cells network thought process. And since the grey matter is what they say moderates moral behavior, those with more white matter can’t help but lie, or cheat, or whatever. So maybe there is truth in the innocence of a little white lie! Ahem.
You can read the full article here Habitual liars' brain structure differs, study says, however you may have to register first on the Telegrams website.
This article reminds me of one that I read in September concerning Gossip. I won’t go into great detail but the idea at the conclusion of a Gossip Survey determined that “…gossip appears to be a very sophisticated, multifunctional interaction ….important in policing behaviors in a group & defining group membership”. Speaking from a sociological standing, that may be true but theologically it is still wrong.
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” Isaiah 5:20-21
*Recently, a polling organization in Britain asked 1,000 citizens to update the list of the Seven Deadly Sins. These are commonly thought to be the fundamental vices that trigger all sinful actions and they have been designated as pride, covetousness, lust, envy, gluttony, anger, and sloth. (Now, this concept is a traditional ideal but as far as doctrinally speaking it is unsubstantial. The impression that these are the pinnacle of sin and specific cause for all sin is not exactly true.)
Nonetheless, this list was altered in the poll and the new Seven Deadly Sins became Cruelty, Adultery, Bigotry, Dishonesty, Hypocrisy, Greed, and Selfishness. The conclusion of this matter was that sin is not necessarily what you do that “offends God” (the essence of the former list), but rather what you do that offends your fellow man (the updated list).
*Perspectives Vol.15/ No.9 -Indiana Bible College
Humanity can attempt to redefine the Laws of God all they want, make allowances for their sin and do it in the name of private interpretation; but that doesn’t nullify the absolute truth of God’s word. The obstinacy of humanity will clearly always be an issue; as we were created with our own will. The serpent beguiled Eve with conventional thinking and Eve influenced Adam. Satanic reasoning, human logic, and willful disobedience paved the road to where we are now.
In closing, I am reminded of the words in Revelation 9:18-21:
“By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.”
After a cataclysmic event wipes out 1/3 of the world population, John said mankind still will not repent of devil worship, loving money and possessions, stealing, murder, and sexual sins. Now I know that trifles with the power of positive thinking, but it’s still Scripture and it is true. Mankind’s insistence to pursue its own wishes and desires has always been and always will be its downfall. This is why God did not intend for our predecessors to know the difference between Good and Evil. They should have just left the Tree well enough alone.
But here we are in 2005 still attempting to establish our own estimation of sin.
James 1:14-15 “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
Humanity has consistently attempted to re-define the Language of Sin and devise its own policy it seems. To facilitate this endeavor, Absolute Truth has to become obsolete and the Rule of Self-Interpretation will take its place. Nothing is allowed to be Definite; everything has to be Situational. What may apply to one is irrelevant to another. And so you see where this line of reasoning can lead to; what the Bible calls reprobate.
Some of these thoughts came to me as I read an article in the Saturday, October 1st edition of the Arlington Star Telegram. There was article written by an Ed Edelson about some neuroscientists that had been researching the brain structure of habitual liars. The article stated that pathological liars have a reason for being that way. It’s because they just happen to have more white matter than grey matter in their brains. This gives them a natural advantage in lying, as well as greater verbal skills because the white matter of the brain is where the cells network thought process. And since the grey matter is what they say moderates moral behavior, those with more white matter can’t help but lie, or cheat, or whatever. So maybe there is truth in the innocence of a little white lie! Ahem.
You can read the full article here Habitual liars' brain structure differs, study says, however you may have to register first on the Telegrams website.
This article reminds me of one that I read in September concerning Gossip. I won’t go into great detail but the idea at the conclusion of a Gossip Survey determined that “…gossip appears to be a very sophisticated, multifunctional interaction ….important in policing behaviors in a group & defining group membership”. Speaking from a sociological standing, that may be true but theologically it is still wrong.
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” Isaiah 5:20-21
*Recently, a polling organization in Britain asked 1,000 citizens to update the list of the Seven Deadly Sins. These are commonly thought to be the fundamental vices that trigger all sinful actions and they have been designated as pride, covetousness, lust, envy, gluttony, anger, and sloth. (Now, this concept is a traditional ideal but as far as doctrinally speaking it is unsubstantial. The impression that these are the pinnacle of sin and specific cause for all sin is not exactly true.)
Nonetheless, this list was altered in the poll and the new Seven Deadly Sins became Cruelty, Adultery, Bigotry, Dishonesty, Hypocrisy, Greed, and Selfishness. The conclusion of this matter was that sin is not necessarily what you do that “offends God” (the essence of the former list), but rather what you do that offends your fellow man (the updated list).
*Perspectives Vol.15/ No.9 -Indiana Bible College
Humanity can attempt to redefine the Laws of God all they want, make allowances for their sin and do it in the name of private interpretation; but that doesn’t nullify the absolute truth of God’s word. The obstinacy of humanity will clearly always be an issue; as we were created with our own will. The serpent beguiled Eve with conventional thinking and Eve influenced Adam. Satanic reasoning, human logic, and willful disobedience paved the road to where we are now.
In closing, I am reminded of the words in Revelation 9:18-21:
“By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.”
After a cataclysmic event wipes out 1/3 of the world population, John said mankind still will not repent of devil worship, loving money and possessions, stealing, murder, and sexual sins. Now I know that trifles with the power of positive thinking, but it’s still Scripture and it is true. Mankind’s insistence to pursue its own wishes and desires has always been and always will be its downfall. This is why God did not intend for our predecessors to know the difference between Good and Evil. They should have just left the Tree well enough alone.
But here we are in 2005 still attempting to establish our own estimation of sin.
posted by Pastor Cortes at 5:37 PM
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