Friends:
One of my great privileges is teaching Systematic Theology at Columbia International University Seminary and School of Ministry (we have very large sweatshirts!). This semester I am teaching Systematic Theology 2 which covers the five areas of man, sin, salvation, the Holy Spirit, and the Church.
We are right now studying the doctrine of temptation and sin and are going through my book When Temptation Strikes. Over the next few blogs I want to address these two critical issues.
The two quotes above by Ian Thomas illustrate some of the issues we will be tackling over the next few weeks.
Questions:
1. Why are we so reluctant to talk about temptation and sin in Christian circles?
2. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, how has He dealt with your problem of sin . . . and sins?
larrydixon
John
March 7, 2013 at 11:32 am
Larry,
You have a singular obsession with SIN and SINS. You make it appear as if the whole Christianity is centered around it. Just lead a normal life with only few regrets and you would have little to worry about when your time comes to an end. Keep in mind whatever God you belief in, He is just and not revengeful. If this is contrary to your idea of God, then you might have reason to fear God.
John
larrydixon
March 7, 2013 at 12:13 pm
John, John, John! I’m so glad you comment on my blog — and that I can count on you as my friend. BUT — I’m not obsessed with sin. IF the real God (not one that I create or that you can imagine) is as holy as the Bible says, we are all in a lot of trouble! Christianity is not obsessed with sin either. It focuses on God’s love in providing a way by which that holy God can forgive us for our wrong-doings. May I kindly suggest that you are committed to a view which rules out a holy God, which basically says “do the best you can and whatever God there is will grade you on the curse when you die,” which doesn’t deal with the reality of Jesus, and certainly doesn’t want a God who is thoroughly holy. But as Sam Mikolaski says, “Unless God is angry with sin, let us put a bullet in our collective brain, for the universe is mad.” What if your conclusion “Just lead a normal life with only few regrets and you would have little to worry about when your time comes to an end”, is wrong? What then, John?
John
March 7, 2013 at 6:51 pm
Larry,
I have no idea what is in your head when you imagine a “Holy God” who is as holy as the Bible says and why we would be in a lot of trouble. There is nothing that would convince me that a God would be other than “just and not revengeful”. To be wrong in my views would not alter this. So your question “if you are wrong, what then, John?” does not scare me. To live in constant fear of damnation for imaginary sins is not in the spirit of meaningful existence.
John
Jacob
March 7, 2013 at 9:34 pm
John, your point is reasonable– living in fear of damnation is no way to live at all! However, living in unification with our creator and savior is THE way to live. The reason theologians often seem “obsessed” with sin is that in order to have a robust understanding of unification with God, we need to understand our sin/sins (something which God is not). How can someone be unified with a God if they have sin? It’s like oil and water. Well, God pardons that sin. But only through Christ. Dare I say, Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us? Well, that may be a different discussion.
John
March 8, 2013 at 11:15 am
Jacob,
I am glad that you agree that my point is reasonable: ” To live in fear of damnation is no way to live at all”. The reason you give why theologians seem to be so obsessed with sin is a lot less reasonable. The “robust understanding of unification with God” leaves me cold in its meaning. The bible has a few hundred references in regards to the “fear of God”. Accordingly, the highest praise you can bestow on a person is to call him a ‘god fearing man’. This puts me at the lowest rank of mankind.
On the other hand, I feel superior to all the TV evangelist with their gold chains around their neck and with flashy rings on their fingers, to preach the good word of the Bible. These hypocrites have all the reasons to fear the wrath of God.
John
jacobgiven
March 8, 2013 at 12:00 pm
It seems to me that fear of God is about relating properly to him. There is a difference between reverent fear and being terrified/insecure. There is a difference between the fear of God and the fear of the wrath of God. It is interesting that the Bible usually mentions that the righteous fear God while the wicked do not. If fear of God is only the fear of his wrath, then those whom the lord declares righteous actually have the least incentive for fearing God, while the wicked ought to fear him the most. It must mean something else. I suggest that it means a proper reverence for God, understanding your place in relation to him.
John
March 8, 2013 at 1:44 pm
Jacob,
Thank you for your quote in your own Blog:
“If there is a sin against life, it consists perhaps not so much in despairing of life as in hoping for another life and in eluding the implacable grandeur of this life.” -Camus
John
Jacob
March 14, 2013 at 8:46 am
You’re very welcome! I find that the best element of existentialism is to draw our attention to the present, and to live a robust life here and now.