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March 10, 2006
Wasting time isn't always a sin; but sinning is always a waste of time
Whatever else sin "is" and whatever other effects it has on a Christian's relationship with God, I have begun to think that one useful way to look at it is as simply a waste of time, a colossal waste of time.
At times when I am contemplating sin, I know that I will be asking forgiveness for it later. I know that I will go through an all to familiar cycle of sin, sorrow, perhaps numbness (if the sinning is persistent), perhaps depression, then a quickening, repentance, tears, restortion.
As I write this, I realize how brazen it is to go into sin knowing you will receive forgiveness. In some articulations of theology, during the period between sin and repentance, I would be out from under the protection of grace, effectively, I would not be a Christian. In the reformed tradition, of which I am more rather than less, a participant, if I am a believer and fall into sin I continue as a believer in my standing before God, but like the prodigal son (and this is a parable about two sorts of believers) I have willingly removed myself from the rich blessings of my Father.
However, make no mistake, sin is serious, serious business for the believer, not only, and most pointedly, because of the tremendous cost paid to remedy its effects, but because even while one remains a believer and forgiveness is always an option, sin will cause pain and perhaps even death. Indeed, scripture affirms the following: sin might cause me to get sick; sin might cause me to fall asleep (read "die" here); repentance might require the intercession of a friend; it might require elders and oil.
And, to come back full circle to the title of this post, sin is such a waste of time, not only of time that we might be using to witness or worship or some other Christian "activity," but of time that we get to simply "be," to be creatures, to be sons and daughters, in right relation to God, being made ever more fit to return to the blessings and bliss of Eden.
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. I Peter 4:1-3
Church Life and Theology | By jackdas | 1:00 PM
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