Michelle wrote:Judah, just wondering could you please clarify what sin actually is. I have heard so many interpretations that I am confused. Some versions have it as immorality, while others describe it as being disobedience. So hopefully you will understand that I am very confused about the actual meaning. Furthermore I become even more confused when I read in various passages in the Bible about how God becomes angry with the Israelites. This is because some people have described anger as being sin too.
Also I totally agree with you on enticing people to Jesus. When people have tried that approach with me it works, but when they start preaching about going to Hell I start viewing it as a threat tactic to make me become part of what they themselves believe forcibly. It is something that goes back to when I was a child. My mother used to tell about Hell when I was small and about how non-believers went there. Lets just say it wasn't the wisest thing to say and only installed fear and resentment for many years.
I wonder what will happen to the type of people I mentioned that are loving and kind when they die. Will they be given the chance to follow Jesus after they die? At judgement time will they if asked if they believe and are willing to follow God receive eternal life if they firmly make the commitment to? I have been told that once a person dies there is no chance for repentance.
I read it somewhere just recently but most frustratingly, cannot seem to find it again... a link to a paper that includes some good discussion of the definition of "sin". If I come across it again I will post it to this thread.
Anyway, "sin" is best defined as missing the mark, or falling short of the mark. The mark is that which God has set - His standard of how we are to be. That is nothing less than perfect, holy and righteous as He is perfect, holy and righteous. Yes, it is a very tall order and we simply cannot live up to it, thus His solution for our salvation if only we will accept it. However, God defines the standard. He tells it to us throughout Scripture but to some extent it is already written in our hearts. And therefore God (not you or me or the other person) defines sin - that being whatever misses the mark and falls short of His standard.
Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Sin = to fall short of the glory (righteousness, holiness) of God
Anger... aha! There is such a thing as righteous anger, or anger that is appropriate in love. I see this kind of anger as the response to a violation, and it is a sign to the other that the violation has occurred and amends must be made to restore the situation. This is not the emotional lashing out to inflict harm willy-nilly without regard for the other. For instance, our sin can incur the wrath (anger) of God as it offends Him, and He will discipline us in His great love for us, teaching us the consequences of our violation and restoring us to Him by His forgiveness on our confession and repentance.
Does that make a little more sense?
There is a time and place for some discussion of Hell, but I think it is highly manipulative when people start preaching Hell as the only way to convince people to believe the Gospel of Christ, or more especially, to control their behaviour in some manner. It is a negative way to frighten them into believing, and as FFC has already mentioned, it may well have something to do with people not being assured of their salvation at all.
1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
In fact, all those things you have described in your earlier post that are used to force people to believe are manipulative and quite unnecessary. I shuddered when I read them.
Jesus is such an attractive person that to truly glimpse Him is enough to make the best parts of one's soul yearn for more of Him - so therefore it is better to present Jesus who draws to Himself those who want to know Him, rather than try frightening them instead.
With regard to the loving and kind people that you mention, you might like to read through the thread that Turgy started over
here although it is relevant more to those folk who have never heard the Gospel.
If you want the honest orthodox Christian truth, Michelle, then the answer is possibly not one you will like too much - Christianity is an exclusive religion. Check out John 14:6 which is the verse on my signature banner. There is no other name given to us by which man can be saved. God is the Creator and we are His creatures. He is the Boss and says how it shall be done - not we tell Him or invent something else.
If you understand sin, if you understand that God is holy and sin has no part of Him, if you understand that we are sinful, and if you understand that Christ is the only one who could possibly make the sacrifice (pay on our behalf) by which we can be
justified (which means to be imputed with His righteousness)
by faith in Him (God's requirement of us in order to deal with our sin) - only then can you see the sense in what I am saying and know that any other way will not work.
That is the core Christian message. Christianity is unashamedly exclusive. God is exclusive - He excludes sin. There is no other easy way around this.
What are your thoughts on that?