The Church and the problem of "Sin"

One thing I have observed, which is weighing on my mind more and more each day, is how far the Church, as a whole, has blinded itself. Not just to the world, which is harmful enough, but more importantly how the Church is blinding itself to God. I do not say this lightly, and I do not use “Church” to describe the true universal Church, but the Institutionalised from the Church has become on earth.

So How is the Church blinding itself to God you might ask? Which I myself might have asked in my youth. The answer is surprisingly clear, it is how the different forms of Church across the world, focuses, no, Fixates on one focus, one word from the bible, to justify discrimination, bigotry, hate, and so much more. This word is simple, but complex, the word is Sin.

The word “Sin” from the Hebrew origins, simply means “To miss the mark”, which in a focus of faith, and our walk with God, in simple terms means to just fall out of step with God, and his plan for us. But from this simple truth, we, the Church, has distorted it to essentially discriminate all who think differently to us. Thankfully the Church in the UK is slowly moving in the right direction on this, but we have a long, long way to go to be where God wants his Church, not just in the UK, but across the world to be.

The best example I can think of to show how the Church has used this to turn from God and became trapped in the trappings of Sin to realise that the Church in how it misses the mark in its walk in God, is the treatment of the LGBTQ+ community across the world, this is especially the case with those who just identify as Homosexual, or Transgender (I am at least the latter as a Transgender Woman). Across the world, people in the Church take issue with at least one of these groups. Based on their belief that by just being who they are, who God made them to be, that they are living in “Sin” as they believe.

This is wrong in so many ways, but most of all, the worst possible thing, is the people in the church who hold to this view assume to position of Judge, Jury, and Executioner, which completely stands in the face of the principle in our faith that only God and God alone can judge if we are living in “Sin”.

In this those who claim to be doing this to the LGBTQ+ communities, as they claim the way they live them attacks their religious beliefs, so shun them, discriminate, and perform hate crimes against, are ignoring the very principle that Jesus Christ lain his life down for us for. Which is ALL are to be loved and welcomed into Gods graces, as who they are. Not what those who object to the LGBTQ+ community expect everyone to be and conform to.

Most importantly is, not just what I have mentioned above, but something else, which demonstrates how they have fallen into the trappings of Sin in their hatred of things which don’t conform to their world view and idea of faith and reject all those who differ from it. They ignore these passages from Matthew Chapter 22 36-40 (NIV)

““Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it “LOVE your NEIGHBOUR as yourself” All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments” “

As you can see, although I cannot vouch for the hearts of those who hold to the way of thinking that those who are LGBTQ+ live in Sin and deserve to be shunned and outcast. I can say this, those same people who shun these people due to it “being in conflict with their religious beliefs” have missed the point of what it means to be a Christian, and directly contradicts the two commandments which Jesus spoke about in Matthew, as is mentioned above.

Due to this, arguably, they miss the whole point of what our faith is about, what our Church is built on. Not the discrimination, hatred, belittling of others based on whether they believe someone is in Sin or not.

Our faith in its pure form, is about Love, the love in our relationship with us and God, which then spreads into the transforming love from God, which flows from us in our relationship with Him.

It is not about whether we conform to what out church expects us to be, or how many we try to “correct” from their life of so called “Sin”. But it IS about how much love, compassion, and God grace we pass on and show to others, and how inclusive, loving and accepting we are of all.

Our faith is not strictly confined in what we find in the pages of the bible, as the bible is only a guide to our faith, and something to draw inspiration from God from. But out faith is so much bigger and defies the constraints of the Bible which was written a long time ago, by the hand of man, which yes may have been inspired by God, but it is still written by man.

So our faith has to outstrip the confines of the Bible, as God’s essence and abilities, standards and tools, cannot be confined purely but the Bible.

Our faith and relationship with God, is only confined by our own ability to love ourselves, but more importantly God, and our ability to love and accept others no matter what, just as God has done for us, when Jesus dies for us on that Cross 2000 or so years ago.

Another trapping of Sin we have as a Church, isn’t just how we treat others as outlined. But also, our fixation on eternal punishment and rewards for either following God or not.

But in my reading of what scripture says, especially in revelation, but also just the whole of the Bible, is that life isn’t about punishment or reward. As if it was, why would God have sent his son to die for us ALL?

It’s because it isn’t about that. Life is a simple choice. It is where we Choose to have that relationship with God, by our own free will, without pressure, without strings, to dive into the relationship with God, and the eternal love he has for is. Which is why I believe, that our God does offer us eternal life, not as a reward for following him. But as a result of how much he loves us, God loves us so much he wants us to be with him, as we love him, and he loves us, for eternity, as that is the Power of Gods love for us, and this is what I believe the Riches God promises to us are, not vague treasure in New Jerusalem described in revelations, but to share in the deep love of God, and our relationship with him THAT is our reward, and it is more than we need.

And because of this, I cannot simply believe that God would just idly sit by and watch people he loves and cares for so deeply, suffer for eternity in “Hell” as so many Christians believe and spout.

As the bible does not speak of a God that is so full of hate, that he would let those he created, those he loves to suffer for eternity. But he offers them a choice, life, in a relationship in him to share in his love forevermore. Or to simply not. Those who do not choose God, he honours their wish, by giving them a true death, where they are no longer in creation, they become nothing. As where in Gods creation can Gods love not reach? That would be nowhere. As Gods love flows through all of creation.

So, the second death described in revelation, is not an eternal punishment as many believe. But is just God granting the wishes of those who have chosen to reject him.

So, the framing that the “Sinful” shall burn forever in hell unless they repent is another, and massively harmful rhetoric of the Church. And unless we fall out of this trapping collectively, and the ones already mentioned, all we will do is just further and further be a divisive force in the world and destructive. As the message of the church should NEVER be one of hate, but one of love, ALWAYS of Love.

Also, we must be ready to admit, that we, as Christians, do not know everything and do get things wrong. That is ok, and honestly, will gain us much more respect, understanding and patience of those who are not yet ready to believe. As we are only human after all, and due to this we do not, and more importantly cannot know everything. And to fall into this is yet another trapping of sin we must fight against. Yes, we can tell people what we believe to be the case, but we cannot objectively state it as fact, and we must be able to admit we may be wrong in something, and in this we can humble ourselves before other and God, and in this God can share more of the truth through us.

Also, we must remember that we are only meant to share our beliefs with others and pray for God to do the rest. It is not our job to give life to the seeds God wants us to plant in others, as only God knows how, if and when the right time for him to grow those seeds in others. We are just his sowers.

So, pray that we, as individuals, and as a body, the Church can escape the trappings of Sin, and find our place on our walk with God, so we may follow him, and trust in the love that God has for us and the path he has placed in front of us. And that we can eradicate the hate that comes from the Church and replace is with a love so powerful, it can, has and will continue to shape the world into the world God wants it to be. Through Gods love, all of us are saved, and it is only through love, not hate we can draw more people to know of the love that God has for us, and to truly live the life God has planned for us. 

The way to fight against hate and hurt, is never about fighting back with more hate and hurtful behaviour that pushes away those who would come to the church in need, but the way to fight it is in the love which we find in God.

So, pray that we, the church can find this love again and live in it, and let Gods love work through us, and in this we can escape the trappings of sin, and to live in love which God has given to all!

Also pray that we can humble ourselves, admit we are not always right in what we believe, before others and before God, be ready for God to work in us and through is in this, and that in this we can more effectively sow the seeds that might one day grow into faith.

And finally pray that we do not focus on what we can get from out faith, or what punishments we might face, as this is not what is important, but to focus and live in the love and life which God grants us, and think of that as our reward, and how we can share this reward with as many people as God places in our path to do so.

I hope that in some way this has been helpful to you, and feel free to comment on this post with questions or anything you wish to say (which is not hateful) and I will do my best to reply.

May God bless and protect and share his love with you all.

Blessing and love

Natalie

Xxx