In the 1970s...
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In the 1970s Karl Menninger wrote a book that was widely read, studied, and discussed. Menninger was a Harvard-educated psychiatrist who established the Menninger Sanitarium in 1925 in Topeka, Kansas. As a psychiatrist he believed that mental health is dependent upon physical, social, cultural, and moral (spiritual) health. A significant aspect of spiritual health is to be unencumbered by the ramifications of sin. Therefore his book, penned by a medical doctor, was titled Whatever Became of Sin? The following paragraph is the one that is most often quoted:
The very word "sin," which seems to have disappeared, was a proud word. It was once a strong word, an ominous and serious word. It described a central point in every civilized human being's life plan and lifestyle. But the word went away. It has almost disappeared -- the word, along with the notion. Why? Doesn't anyone sin anymore? Doesn't anyone believe in sin?
Application: Has the word sin gone out of your vocabulary, or is it just reserved for the other person? Has sin gone out of your life, but lives abundant in your neighbors? Has sin avoided your church pew, but inhabits that which is behind, in front, and of course across the aisle? If sin is not to be found in your life, then where is it? Sin will remain a part of us until we refocus our attention "on the treasures of heaven."
The very word "sin," which seems to have disappeared, was a proud word. It was once a strong word, an ominous and serious word. It described a central point in every civilized human being's life plan and lifestyle. But the word went away. It has almost disappeared -- the word, along with the notion. Why? Doesn't anyone sin anymore? Doesn't anyone believe in sin?
Application: Has the word sin gone out of your vocabulary, or is it just reserved for the other person? Has sin gone out of your life, but lives abundant in your neighbors? Has sin avoided your church pew, but inhabits that which is behind, in front, and of course across the aisle? If sin is not to be found in your life, then where is it? Sin will remain a part of us until we refocus our attention "on the treasures of heaven."
