For some of you, that probably seems like a ridiculous question. God hates sin, of course. What’s to wonder about? He hated it so much that Jesus died for it. Sin is what separates us from Him.

But wait a minute. Is that right? Was God so disgusted by our sins that Jesus had to die to take them away? Or was it that God loved us so much that Jesus had to die?

As I look at the gospel accounts, I’m struck by how often Jesus interacts with sinners. And not just average sinners either. Tax collectors. Prostitutes. Adulteresses. Sinners of the "worst kind".

When I read those accounts, I’m blown away by Jesus’ compassion. To the woman at the well, he offers respect and dignity--something she’s never known. Though she has yet to repent, still, he cares for her. He talks to her! To Peter, whose faith falters again and again, he shows great patience and understanding. His correction is firm, but never harsh. To Thomas, he does not say, “Come here, idiot. I can’t believe you have to touch me!” but simply, “ Put your finger here…Stop doubting and believe.” Even on the cross, in the midst heart-stopping anguish, he intercedes for his killers.

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Could it be that we’re more disgusted with our sin than God is? That we read into the New Testament a tone of condemnation and shame that isn’t there?

Romans 8 tells us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, yet, how often do we picture God rolling his eyes and turning away from us in disgust? How often do we behave this way toward others? “How could they do such a thing!” we say, unable to hold back our disdain.

I guess I’m thinking more and more that God doesn’t have a sin-o-meter that he carries around. He is not stunned by our weaknesses, nor is he repulsed. If Jesus truly was God incarnate, then the gospel accounts suggest that God extends a hand to us—and to others—in the midst of our sin. He would seem to take a developmental approach to correcting us, showing us the error of our ways and calling us out from the places we hide.

Even in the Garden, God behaved this way—“Adam, where are you?” he asked, after Adam had doomed humanity. “Why are you hiding?” God called, as if he didn’t know the whereabouts of his creation. We often see the God of Old Testament as one who smites and judges, and only in the person of Christ finds his softer side. But is that true? Did God’s character change? Or is just that we can wrap our minds around his justice more than his love?

Am I suggesting that sin carries no consequences? Absolutely not. God is interested in justice. Adam and Eve were put out of the garden, after all. But his justice is intrinsically linked to his love. I think we need to begin to unpackage our view of God and in particular, our view of sin. Just what constitutes sin? Which sins are worthy of our disgust and contempt? Who deserves to be banished from our presence because of their sin? What does it mean to take a developmental view of sin?

As I look at the church, I see a great tendency to project our feelings about sin onto God, to try to pass our feelings off as his. More than that, I see a great tendency to draw the focus away from our own sin, onto the sin of others. We really are fond of the sin-o-meter, and we like nothing more than when someone else buries the needle.

The Pharisees criticized Jesus for not playing by their rules. They berated him for not being sufficiently disgusted at the behavior of sinners. He ate with them, talked with them, allowed them to anoint his feet with perfume!

While the holiness movement has put a great emphasis on the Christian’s need to live an righteous life—a life worthy of the calling they have received--I think perhaps we need to remind ourselves that our only true righteousness comes from Christ. If we’re really serious about doing the things Jesus did, then maybe we need to focus more on the incarnation, and less on its imitation.

Our sin frustrates us. It reminds us that we are not God and that our need for a Savior remains. We’re irritated by this fact. We want to be getting better and better, not struggling more and more. But for each sin that rises to the surface, Jesus calls to us, “Yes, I died for that one too.”

What do you think on this one? Does our sin disgust God?

A saint who sins,


Spencer

Other thoughts. I would love to hear your feed-back.

Feed Back on TheOoze Message Board

Other "heresy" I think I believe...

A Trinity of Transition,
Fear, Anger or Love,
Unpackaging the Church,
Jabez and Jezebel

P.S. On a personal note, Grace Kathleen Burke came into the world on July 12, at 10:32 a.m. PST. Just 1 lb, 13 oz., she was delivered after being in utero for 27 weeks and 3 days (and three weeks and a day since Lisa was admitted to the hospital for medical bed rest).

Gracie is a fighter. She’s still very sick, but showing strong signs of recovery. She’s on a respirator and is unable to eat. She has an IV and “super food” for now. She also has a hole in her heart (which is normal for preemies) but the doctors hope it will heal on its own or with meds. We will wait and see.

Lisa is now back at home and our three-and-a-half-year-old son Alden is very excited to have his mommy back. Gracie isn’t expected to come home until October, but in my gut, I think she will be with us sooner.

Thanks for your prayers.

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Video of the Week:

The Apostle (1998)


starring Robert Duvall and Farrah Fawcett


You may have already seen this one, but I invite you to watch it again while thinking about this week’s discussion. This is the story of a preacher encountering sin--both his own and other’s. How does God see the faulted Sonny Euless?

CD of the Week:

What You Whispered (2000)

David Wilcox


A storyteller through song, Wilcox writes music that is sincere and thought-provoking. Recorded in his Maryland home, What You Whispered is unpretentious and reminiscent of his 1996 album, East Asheville Hardware. Check out the HREF="http://www.theooze.com/articles/read.cfm?ID=127&CATID=3">interview with did with him a while back.

Book of the Week:

Upholding Mystery : An Anthology of Contemporary Christian Poetry

David Impastato, ed. (Oxford University Press, 1997)


Featuring the work of Richard Wilbur, Annie Dillard, Daniel Berrigan, Les Murray and others, Upholding Mystery features only poets who are currently writing. “Is it possible that a body of Christian poetry is now being produced whose literary merit is equal to its religious conviction?” asks one reviewer. "Upholding Mystery answers that question with a resounding and surprising ‘yes.’” Definitely worthwhile.

LINKS:

HREF="http://www.yourtruehero.org/index.asp">Your True Hero


Drawing attention to life’s ordinary heroes, this inspirational site asks readers to consider the real heroes of our culture.

HREF="http://www.theotherside.org/core.html">The Other Side


Begun in 1965, The Other Side is both a magazine and a ministry which offers an alternative Christian vision. An interesting read as we talk about what it will mean to unpackage the church and the story of Christ.