What is sin?
It is simply going against the will of God. Sadly, modern society has ceased to understand this. Since the time of creation God has taught us right and wrong. But today people have blurred the line between those two very distinct positions. Many feel that because everyone else does a certain thing then it is no longer wrong, and therefore it is not a sin. With the passage of time certain actions have ceased to be seen as wrong and so the concept of sin has been very much diluted.
If something was wrong years ago, it is still wrong today.
For example, if you phone your boss and pretend you are ill in order to take a day off work, this is stealing. The fact that other people do it too does not lessen the fact that it is stealing.
If you listen or partake in gossip about someone, it is stealing his good name and reputation. It is in effect taking something away from him and causing him harm.
Sin is a deliberate behaviour to act against the will of God.
Can sin be forgiven? Of course it can, but to do so the individual must recognise that he has sinned, confess that sin and genuinely seek forgiveness. He should also resolve not to commit that particular sin again.
But yet again, the real meaning of forgiveness has been blurred with the passage of time. Many feel that by just saying "sorry" to God all is well again. This is in effect a sin in itself because it denigrates the great sacrifice which Christ made for us on the Cross. He did not die so that we casually say sorry without meaning it.
Being human, we are all liable to sin. The devil is always there to tempt us in various ways big or small. The sin of Adam and Eve was not a simple sin of disobedience about eating a forbidden fruit; it was the much more serious sin of wanting to be like God. The sin of defiance against their very creator.
The devil even tried to tempt Jesus, so we should not be much of a challenge to Him.
When temptation comes our way, we should follow Christ's example and pray. Prayer is a sure way to avoid sin at its source.
...in my mind, sin is a complex situation.
ReplyDeleteSin is the difference between right and wrong.
DeleteGod bless, Tom.
Dearest Victor,
ReplyDeleteSo very true in a changed permissive society.
Morals are off the table and with that—the doors opened to sin.
Most people blindly follow the indoctrination by movies, mainstream media and so on.
It takes some will power to not bend to all this!
But in the end it will pay off...
Hugs,
Mariette
Yes, I see your point Mariette. Movies and TV plays and dramas tend to set a bad example. They say they are mirroring life; or is life mirroring the movies?
DeleteGod bless.
💯
DeletePrayer is our best weapon against sin, Victor. May we be in prayer and thanksgiving to God each and every day.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
But ... people don't pray any more.
DeleteGod bless you, Martha.
It is much more efficient to avoid sinning than doing wrong and needing to confess it.
ReplyDeleteYeah ... especially with the penance the priests give these days. It used to be just one Hail Mary. Now it's ten. The priest told me it's inflation.
DeleteGod bless, Kathy.
It's a cruel world we live it and there are lots of people who would just laugh at this. Sometimes I wonder if humans can do better, I believe they can but it's too much work to try. Sad indeed!
ReplyDeleteThe world has become cruel and uncaring. It's all self-centred and selfishness now. Indeed, it is sad.
DeleteGod bless, Bill.
Reminds me of an old line, "But mom, ALL the kids are doing it." I suppose even a 'little white lie' is still a lie in God's eyes. We all need to pray for this old world.
ReplyDeleteThe sad thing, Mevely, is that the bad example is everywhere. On TV, on social media, in films; people see wrong being done and feel it is OK to do the same. There are so few people to look up to these days as good role models. Comedy programs in particular seem to make light of bad behaviour.
DeleteGod bless you.
Susan Kane here at thecontemplativecat@ blogspot.com. Google is becoming more and more difficult. The line between is right and what is wrong is being erased, and the line shrinks. It is frustrating to hear some one say, "It's all good" as a response to verbal confrontations. No, it is not allll good.
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan for persevering despite technical problems with Google.
DeleteYes, the line between right and wrong is being erased in the name of modern thinking and being sophisticated in this new world. Old ways are ridiculed as old fashioned.
God bless always.
Thank you for this post. Wishing more could read it! Have a grand week!
ReplyDeleteThank you Cathy. Please invite your friends here.
DeleteGod bless you and yours.
Amen, I agree!
ReplyDeleteGod bless you, Happyone.
DeleteSin, at the core, is idolatry, wanting to determine for ourselves what is right and wrong.
ReplyDeleteAmen Mimi.
DeleteGod bless you.
Indeed.
ReplyDelete- Although I see how the current 'if enough folks do it, it's all right' attitude started. In part, at any rate.
I remember when radio preachers seemed to put the eternal word of God, the United States Constitution, and their personal music preferences - on the same elevated level.
I strongly suspect that did not help those who weren't fans of the preachers see "sin" as something other than "annoying that lunatic".
Oh, well. On the 'plus' side, those loonies set me on a path that led me to become a Catholic, and that's another topic.
The thing is, a lot of people no longer understand what sin is.
DeleteGod bless, Brian.