How Much Sin Is Too Much?
Preaching
Shaking Wolves Out Of Cherry Trees
And 149 Other Sermon Ideas
Purpose Statement: If God always forgives our sins (when our repentance is real!), what does this mean for us, having this knowledge, while at the same time knowing we are about to willingly sin again?
It seems to be a tricky position posing a tricky question. When we know we will be forgiven and yet we are contemplating our new sins with eagerness, it is like playing a game and drawing a card that reads, "You may have one free sin and bypass going to jail." Isn't this perilously close to Luther's criticism over the selling of indulgences?
There are some Christian fundamentalists (which some would claim to be an oxymoron) who assert that once you are saved, you can no longer sin again. A little rational thought quickly debunks such a notion. The most saintly of us find creative ways to sin every day. Consequently, how do we theologically maneuver around the problem of our future sins and their attendant forgiveness?
a. The Diminished Soul: The more we sin, the more our soul suffers shrinkage, and the less capable we become of differentiating right from wrong. Just as watching too much violence desensitizes us to violence, the more we sin the more desensitized we become to the problem. Another analogy would be: each additional drink taken by the social drinker renders that person less able to determine when to stop.
b. The Ingrained Habit: Obviously, the more we sin in general, or in particular harmful actions, the more it becomes habitual. The habit takes greater control of us making it more difficult even to repent.
c. The Receding Repentance: We begin to destroy our understanding of repentance and the nature of repentance. For example: Do we say to ourselves, "We may embezzle now, but we'll be honest later"? Are we telling God, "We don't love you now, but we will love you later"? We begin to think repentance is making a deal with God.
Some possible scriptures: Matthew 18:21-35; Matthew 5:29-30.
It seems to be a tricky position posing a tricky question. When we know we will be forgiven and yet we are contemplating our new sins with eagerness, it is like playing a game and drawing a card that reads, "You may have one free sin and bypass going to jail." Isn't this perilously close to Luther's criticism over the selling of indulgences?
There are some Christian fundamentalists (which some would claim to be an oxymoron) who assert that once you are saved, you can no longer sin again. A little rational thought quickly debunks such a notion. The most saintly of us find creative ways to sin every day. Consequently, how do we theologically maneuver around the problem of our future sins and their attendant forgiveness?
a. The Diminished Soul: The more we sin, the more our soul suffers shrinkage, and the less capable we become of differentiating right from wrong. Just as watching too much violence desensitizes us to violence, the more we sin the more desensitized we become to the problem. Another analogy would be: each additional drink taken by the social drinker renders that person less able to determine when to stop.
b. The Ingrained Habit: Obviously, the more we sin in general, or in particular harmful actions, the more it becomes habitual. The habit takes greater control of us making it more difficult even to repent.
c. The Receding Repentance: We begin to destroy our understanding of repentance and the nature of repentance. For example: Do we say to ourselves, "We may embezzle now, but we'll be honest later"? Are we telling God, "We don't love you now, but we will love you later"? We begin to think repentance is making a deal with God.
Some possible scriptures: Matthew 18:21-35; Matthew 5:29-30.
