Whatever became of sin?

More than 30 years ago, psychiatrist Karl Menninger penned the following words in his book "Whatever Became of Sin?"

"The very word ‘sin,' which seems to have disappeared, was once a proud word. It was once a strong word, an ominous and serious word. But
the word went away. It has almost disappeared - the word, along with the notion. Why? Doesn't anyone sin anymore? Doesn't anyone believe in
sin?"

What was true then ... is even more the case today.

D.A. Carson, a widely recognized N.T. scholar, commented a few years ago that the most frustrating part of doing evangelism on university campuses is that most students have no idea of sin.

"They know how to sin well enough, but they have no idea of what constitutes sin," he said.

Cathy Lynn Grossman of USA Today (March 19) asked the question, "Is sin dead?"

The headline of her article in the paper was: "Has the ‘Notion of Sin' Been Lost?"

Early in the article, Grossman answers her own question - "No, not by a long shot." Still, her report raises some important issues about just what many people - and preachers - believe about sin.

She also points to a question that should trouble the Christian conscience: "How can Christians celebrate Jesus' atonement for their sins and the promise of eternal life in his resurrection if they don't recognize themselves as sinners?"

That question demands an answer. Some observations from the article are worthy of note.

The report reveals a great divide over the question of sin.

Her article continues: "Take it from Pope Benedict XVI. He says the modern world "is losing the notion of sin." And not just personal sins such as greed, lust or the rest of the infamous seven deadlies, but social sins, too, such as polluting the planet or allowing injustice to flourish."

Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan and author of The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, speaks about "sin"

to his audiences, which is 70 percent single and younger than 40, "I use it with lots and lots of explanation, because the word is essentially obsolete. They do get the idea of branding, of taking a word or term and filling it with your own content, so I have to rebrand the word ‘sin,' " Keller says.

Mark Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, a non-denominational megachurch with 7,000 in Sunday attendance (chiefly singles in their 20s), says a little talk of hellfire, so out of fashion these days, would do the world good.

He defines sin as "anything contrary to God's will. People assume the way they are is normal, not that something has gone terribly wrong, and this world is abnormal."

Although his primary audience is newbie Christians, Driscoll is sharply clear: "Without an idea of sin, Easter is meaningless."

The apostle Paul made it very clear in his writings that sin is a very big deal that needs to be dealt with: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God ... For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 3:23, 6:23). Christ Jesus came
into the world to save sinners (I Timothy 1:15). John said it well: "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:17).

I'm glad my sins are forgiven! How about you?

Dr. Krouse is pastor of First Baptist Church of Colusa. He can be reached at 696-0563 or sskrouse@succeed.net.