Stacking The Sin Deck (July 2011)

Thus far this year we’ve talked about how God sees sin (rebellion against Him, perversion of His good gifts, separation from Him) and the universality of sin (all of us sin, are worthy of judgment, and will be held accountable). What I hope we have seen is the story of God is, ultimately, about God, not us. We are then invited to be a part of that story and either contribute to the glory of God, or try to make our own way in the brief years we have on this earth. Over the next quarter we’ll see three major ways to respond to God’s gracious story as it relates to sin and hopefully tackle some hidden pitfalls in each.

The first is in Luke 17:9-17.

Over the course of our lives we pursue God in different ways. As we are led by Him, the Spirit of God deals with our junk, some of which we’re ready to receive and work on, and other things we’re not. Sometimes I find myself trying to do God’s work on my power and when it doesn’t work, I’m finally ready to hear from God about His way. Jesus tells us a story about a religious leader and a tax collector. It may not mean anything to us today, so let’s put it in more modern, applicable terms for us: a pastor (or pope) and a thief. Does this give the story more meaning for you? What social conventions does Jesus turn on their heads?

The pastor stands at the altar of God and even in his prayers can’t help but play the comparison game. Rather than focusing on God, he focuses on everyone (maybe even everything) else. As I read it, I think there’s some subtext of this pastor choosing to look at only those people who make him look better, deftly avoiding those who might be able to do the same with him! He points out sins of others that he doesn’t struggle with while avoiding the sins he does struggle with. In subtlety, his mind moves away from God and toward his perception of what being good is–and he passes the test!

We do this in our lives as well, stacking the proverbial deck until our junk smells like roses and everyone else is just struggling to catch up. It’s not even a conscious choice most of the time–a deliberate, slanderous act–but a series of small, seemingly inconsequential decisions over a course of weeks, months, and years. Sin is like that. It’s deceptive. It’s at home in feelings of self-assured self-sufficiency. It’s slow-growing but fast-acting. And when it gets warmed up, it brings a quick chill that hardens the heart to others’ sufferings and certainly to God. Before we know it, we are gladder that we’re not like “them” (we think with smug superiority) than we are that God, in His mercy, has delivered us from the consequences of our own despicable sin.

This is where thoughts of being “good enough” get us. Ideas of comparison are deadly to faith. This is also why we had to lay groundwork about God’s views on sin and His truth about all people and their sin. If we don’t first align ourselves with God’s word regarding who we are we can be tempted to see too small a crack between who we are and who God made us to be–the distance is a chasm of immeasurable distance and depth. When our sin ain’t that bad, and we’re all pretty good, then God’s word isn’t as true, God’s love isn’t as glorious, His redemption isn’t as necessary, His voice isn’t as strong, and His glory isn’t as big. God won’t put up with that kind of worldview because it makes God out to be less that who God is. And that’s simply not good enough.