Article: SIN IS ALWAYS SCANDALOUS

Tuesday, December 03, 2002 - 06:00 PM

SIN IS ALWAYS SCANDALOUS
By Patrick D. Andrews

Newspapers, TV, and radio have been filled with the scandalous news of the behavior within the Catholic church--years and generations are effected. Comments, indictments, and editorials with varying degrees of intensity have been levied against priests, bishops, archbishops, cardinals and the pope. Some have offered various reasons and speculation about the leadership and the parishioners. Some say that their "church" needs to be more conciliatory. Others bemoan the extreme attitudes that have allowed children to be abused. The research reveals that the problem has been "brewing" for a long time in their seminaries. Those who were at one time on the outside and in the minority have come to be in places of leadership.

Problems arise when God's Word is neglected and obedience is minimized. We have some of our own brethren that are advocating that the Lord's Church should be ever changing to meet the needs of the membership. There are specialized workshops and lectureships for the indoctrination of elders, preachers, and teachers. Many have opined that if we don't change the church, then they going to find one that will change to their whims, fancies, and ever-moving desires (one that will accommodate sins). It is a very real problem--Christ didn't die to accommodate sin, but to forgive sin.

John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, addressed the sin issue. 1 John 3:4-6 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

Was this Apostle John inspired? 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. The inspired Apostle Paul indicates that he was! 2 Peter 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. The Apostle Peter indicates the same! If John is inspired of God, then no amount of wishing, wiggling, or wrangling can alter the condemnation or consequence of sin.

What is our conclusion? When man sins, that sinner is guilty of the sin committed. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Sin is transgression of God's law and those who commit sin stand guilty before God's judgment. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. The problem within the greater religious community is also a problem that is getting bigger and bigger in the Church is the unwillingness to admit that sin is sin and man is wrong when he sins.

Some want to apply some of the trendy transactional analysis and psycho-babble and arrive at a conclusion that we are all OK. The advocated doctrine of "I'm OK, you're OK" is not biblical. Jesus didn't teach that, didn't die for that, nor will He give His OK for that when He comes again! The only way that we both can be OK is if we both have been blood-bought and washed from our sins. 1 Corinthians 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

Regardless of the presentation or qualifications of the presenter, sin cannot become non-sin by the lack of man's pronounced condemnation. It might be possible to fool a sitting hen to accept a "china-egg" but it's not an egg even though one or more hens might accept it as such. Those "glass eggs" might motivate a chicken to be more productive as a hen, but it won't ever be a viable egg.

Religiously, a "china egg doctrine," will never produce salvation. It can be accepted by a few or a multitude, but it won't forgive sin--it won't save! Many argue long and hard that the motive for some doctrine is noble and since the motive is noble, the doctrine must be noble, also.

However, the truth of God is cannot be altered! Translations and commentaries do not validate the doctrine. 2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. God's will is constant. It cannot be changed. His Truth is constant--forever. 1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Even though some might advocate that we should be able to "pick the meat from the bones," we still find ourselves obligated to be true to the Son of God or eternally Lost. Coined phrases, changed doctrines, greater numbers within a group, or being endorsed by those who have the names and the billings will not alter the concluded Law that God has given. Either God is right or He is wrong! It leaves us with the choice of being for Him or against Him. Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Sin is always scandalous. Sin is always condemned.