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On the Silencing of Sin
The danger of our times is increasing. I'm not now talking about the threat of physical violence; I'm talking the world of ideas that are played out in action. The culture war in which we engage is not simply about people engaging in certain actions; it is about the way people think that allows them to do the things that are most troubling.The "don't judge" mentality is winning out in such a way that we are afraid to say anything for fear of being branded bigots and fearmongers. The only real "sin" of our times is that of speaking out against actual sins. We have learned that we cannot really call sin out for what it is because that would mean we are hateful, judgmental hypocrites. How so? I see the reasoning go something like this: We are all sinners (true). We all need help (true). We all need grace (true). The extent of our calling out sin should, therefore, stop with recognizing only our own problems because to say anything more than that is to be judgmental and hypocritical (false). The silencing of sin in the broader sense has been effective because we have generally bought into the notion that no one really has a right to say that anyone else is doing anything wrong — unless, of course, we strongly condemn those who are so judgmental. It's always open season on the arrogant, judgmental bigots. You know who you are.
Have we not noticed the trend? It seems, so often, that when someone makes a point about something being sinful (e.g., the practice of homosexuality), there are immediate rejoinders. "But we all have our problems." "But we have to love the sinner." "But we shouldn't judge because Jesus said not to." Not that there is no truth to these points (in context), or that they should never be made (in context), but it sometimes has more of the feeling of telling the person, "Please quit saying that something is sinful or that people are actually guilty of sin; it makes us all feel badly and we don't want that. Let's just love." We soften the blow of sin based on the fact that all are guilty of something bad, and "love" demands that we just let it go. As we become more reluctant to call sin out for what it is, sin gets silenced while those who practice the sins hold their hands up in victory over all the hateful bigots who dared challenge their ideas and practices.
I am keenly aware of my imperfections, my failures, indeed my sins. I have no desire to self-justify. But should such an awareness keep me from calling sin what it is? Should it keep me from striving with sin, from pleading with sinners, and from trying to boldly proclaim the gospel? In fact it is the awareness of my own sins, coupled with the knowledge of forgiveness, that makes me want to cry out even more for all to forsake sin and submit to God. I often think of Isaiah 6. Isaiah saw God on His throne and was overwhelmed by both his own sins and the sins of those around him. He was touched with forgiveness, then was ready to answer God's question, "Whom shall I send?" Isaiah responded, "Here am I, send me." Isaiah knew he was a sinner, yet was compelled by God's forgiveness to go out and preach to a culture that, even then, would mostly fail to listen. That didn't stop him.
Therefore, I believe that anyone who preaches or teaches needs to deeply aware of his own sins. He also needs to know God's forgiveness. Then he needs to get out to a world that needs forgiveness and speak God's message with courage, love, and humility. Don't let false charges get in the way. Don't let sin off the hook. Forgiveness can only be realized when sin is plainly understood and personal responsibility has been taken for it. Yes, we all are sinners, so let's all see sin for what it is and join together in the great brotherhood of the forgiven. Don't let the cross of Jesus Christ be lifted in vain, for His blood cries out to the whole world to say no less than this: 1) sin is horrifi c; 2) God's love is immense; and 3) He wishes for the whole world to know both (1) and (2).
