Published by Almost every organized religion has some concept of “sin”. The word is used most commonly to describe an action or thought process that breaks some pre-defined moral code usually set down by a divinity. The Ten Commandments were given to Moses in the Bible to define sin for the Jewish nation. In modern times the word “sin” has developed into something that is usually viewed as a purposeful wrong activity or manner of thinking. While certainly extreme and vicious action against the general welfare of mankind can easily be defined as “sin” I’ve often wondered if there wasn’t a bit more to it. The word creates incredible controversy when used to describe homosexuality, abortion, sex prior to marriage and a myriad of other social topics. Fundamentalists will take the Bible passages literally and swear you are headed for hell if you involve yourself in these activities. Some non-denominational evangelical groups will tend to avoid the subject or, as was the case with the church I attend, will openly apologize for their lack of tolerance while gently trying to lead you from these actions. The liberal churches will openly ordain women and homosexuals and profess an acceptance of pro-life views.
What does it all boil down to?
The Apostle Paul often used the Greek word hamartano when speaking of sin. Literally translated this means to “miss the mark” or “swerve away from”. In the middle ages a similar word was used as an archery term to describe missing the target. Certainly, there existed words used to describe more heinous sin that meant “transgression” or “to step away from the will of God”. The question in regards to the word hamartano is: to swerve away from what? To miss what mark? Who set this mark? How can I be certain that this mark or direction is true and correct?
While not much of a Bible thumper I am a Bible reader and I believe Paul gives a fairly clear statement in the book of Romans regarding what we “swerve away from” and how to define it. He writes:
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness since what may be known about God is plain to them. For since the creation f the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made so that men are without excuse.
I know, I know, that sounds heavy and overbearing but what Paul was simply trying to say was “Look around you! You can see planets and stars and you live on the earth which is perfectly balanced and obviously designed for your pleasure and good. It rains and food that you need to survive grows. There is obviously a natural order and creation process to every function under the sun that you had nothing to do with creating and have no control over. How can you not acknowledge a force that is much greater than you?” Even science today realizes such facts. The more we understand how things work in such delicate and fine balance the more we become aware that creation has a natural order and system.
To work against that system is, in a word, sin. Or swerving away from the natural order of creation. Paul uses the word “wrath” to describe creations (God’s) response to “missing the mark”. Wrath is a poorly chosen word. The creation process does not express wrath any more than your automobile does when the engine seizes because you never changed the oil. The car is not mad at you but you will suffer a great inconvenience and cost as a result of your inability (whether purposeful or as a result of ignorance) to maintain the vehicle in the manner which was necessary for it to perform as it was designed. This same truth applies to human behavior. When you refuse to acknowledge the natural order that is “plainly visible” as Paul says, thereby acting in a manner in conflict with it you miss the mark set. In a nutshell, this is what is meant by the word “sin”. Stated plainly, there are natural laws whether I like them or not. If I jump, am pushed or slip and fall from a twenty story building the motivation or fairness behind the fall makes no difference. My body will hurtle to the ground at the same speed and I will be killed.
If you adhere to this definition then homosexuality is “missing the mark”. The ultimate outcome of the act of sex is procreation. Yes, the pleasure is intense and wonderful as well but only between a man and woman can it result in creation. Abortion is “missing the mark”. Forget for a moment that many define it as murder. It interrupts and ceases the process of creation. Sex before marriage? For me the jury’s still out on that one. I understand the need for commitment prior to such an event but I did it and so have millions of others. I married the first woman I had sex with, however and am still married to her today 32 years later.
Jesus told us that “the wages of sin are death” but what did He mean? He meant when we smoke we interrupt the process of natural creation in our bodies, when we hate we create stress for ourselves and damage our internal organs, when we war we hurl projectiles or strike with weapons that maim and kill, whenever, in short, we veer from the path we can see as that of nature and creation we slowly but surely take years from our lives and happiness from our days.
And eventually our “engine seizes” and ultimately, we die.
