Sin is... Separation & Apathy; First John

May the mumbling commence!

What is sin?  According to the author of First John, sin is lawlessness, denial, hatred, and disordered desires.  Now the definition of sin is becoming more various and subtle – harder to get a hold of.  Hmm…  That is the nature of sin, isn’t it?

So we can be safe if we love and avoid contamination from the lusts and disordered desires of this world, right?  Well, there are a couple other dimensions of sin that the author of John brings up.  The first has to do with separation.  Read from First John chapter two:

Children, this is the final hour; you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and now many Antichrists have already come; from this we know that it is the final hour.  They have gone from among us, but they never really belonged to us; if they had belonged to us, they would have stayed with us. But this was to prove that not one of them belonged to us. (Verses 18-19)

Sin separates.  Sin divides.  Sin isolates.  These truths are equally true for our relationship with God and our relationships with our brothers and sisters.  Think of all the many and various things that have caused churches to split – that have caused the body of Christ to be fractured.  How can that not be sin?!?

And Satan rejoices in separation.  Separation causes lone rangers, who are easier to conquer.  In this world of ours, Christians needs to be in good relationship with one another to attempt to live in the Way of Jesus.

Let’s review our list.  Sin is lawlessness, denial, hatred, disordered desires, and separation.  So, if we love one another and stick together, we will be safe, right?  No, it is not even that easy.  The author of First John also includes apathy in his definition of sin.  Read from First John chapter three:

If anyone is well-off in worldly possessions and sees his brother in need but closes his heart to him, how can the love of God be remaining in him?  Children, our love must be not just words or mere talk, but something active and genuine. (Verses 17-18)

The true love from God does not end in a thought or concept.  True love does not give into apparent hopelessness.  True love never despairs.  True love displays itself in actions, in deeds.

Sin is lawlessness, denial, hatred, disordered desires, separation, and apathy.  There it is – sin as the author of First John defines it.  Let us live with this knowledge as we complete Holy Saturday, thinking of the death and burial of our Lord Jesus.  Let us think about how we participated in his death.  

And let us anticipate the joy of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus tomorrow.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out