I.M.H.O.

I guess it's time for me to start answering some of my own questions. I will do so over a number of blogs. But before I do, I think I need to state that just because I let my opinion be known, that it doesn't mean that I have it all figured out or that this is absolutely theologically sound or that I am teaching a doctrine. I will not pretend to have all the answers. Anyone who claims to have it all figured out really should get their head examined or at the very least, their heart. The questions within me/on my blog have been debated for centuries. Man will never completely agree on them, hence the fact that we are referred to as "Protestants" (which comes from the word: protest).

I'm going to start with "What IS sin?". This answer may as well indirectly answer a few of my questions/blogs. The best definition of the word I found was: (Sin-Actions by which humans rebel against God, miss his purpose for their life, and surrender to the power of evil rather than to God.)

Maybe before explaining my beliefs I should give an example that Jesus used. Matthew's letter (Ch. 5) records Jesus saying this: "You know the next commandment pretty well, too: 'Don't go to bed with another's spouse.' But don't think you've preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed. Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. Those leering looks you think nobody notices—they also corrupt. "Let's not pretend this is easier than it really is. If you want to live a morally pure life, here's what you have to do: You have to blind your right eye the moment you catch it in a lustful leer. You have to choose to live one-eyed or else be dumped on a moral trash pile. And you have to chop off your right hand the moment you notice it raised threateningly. Better a bloody stump than your entire being discarded for good in the dump.

In my opinion, Jesus is basically saying that a sin is a sin is a sin, that there is no degree of sin. All sin is equally bad. Adultery vs. lust = the same. Below is another example but from John this time.

The way we know we've been transferred from death to life is that we love our brothers and sisters. Anyone who doesn't love is as good as dead. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know very well that eternal life and murder don't go together

I know that there are several places in the bible that refer to different levels of punishment for different types of sin and that some Christians typically believe/teach that certain sins are deserving of eternal damnation (homosexuality) vs. lying or adultery which only require church discipline and repentance.
I personally put a lot more clout on anything Jesus says vs. any of His disciples. (He was constantly correcting them about their understanding) When Jesus says something and He appears to be contradicted by something else in the bible. I always agree with Him. I believe that He alone was perfect.

So…What IS sin? I think the bible lists several things that it considers a sin. Some of those things we adhere to today and others we don’t. It also lists several things that are/were acceptable. Some of those things we adhere to today and others we don’t. I personally believe that each of us knows the difference between right and wrong (sin). Somewhere deep within us there is an awareness of sin. I believe that the Holy Spirit is “that” awareness. It speaks to us, nudges us, urges us, sways us, moves us, helps us, teaches us, forms us, shapes us………… so on and so forth. Sin isn’t a list in my opinion, it’s purposefully rejecting what we know is right for our lives. What is a sin to me might not be a sin to someone else and vice versa. I think this statement fits the definition given above.

Thoughts? I am always open for discussion.