Monday, July 06, 2009

sin's problem

Isn't sin essentially self-centered, and idolatrous- at its core? Sin is turning all of God's gifts, and life in on one's self. It's all about me and what I want. Sounds idolatrous, doesn't it?

But God is in charge and God is the One to be worshiped and in Whose Love we are to live. And we are poor gods. Besides we can't order the world as God can. So sin ends up being self-destructive, at least God's image in us is further defaced.

If we refuse this Life God offers to us in Christ, a life that begins to turn us right side out, and ends up rescuing the world from its being upside down, beginning now in Jesus- then we simply end up not being a part of God's good kingdom that eventually is to take over the earth, setting all things right, and making all things new- in Jesus.

A helpful book on this is C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce. The divorce is between heaven and hell, but really the book has more to do with this life than the life to come. Another "must read" from him: Mere Christianity.

Any thoughts on this you'd like to share?

6 comments:

nannykim said...

The Great Divorse was a neat book

Allan R. Bevere said...

Yes, sin is a turning inward, which is why we must resist accounts of the atonement that are primarily in the language of self-fulfillment. Jesus died to get us out of ourselves, not to put us more into ourselves.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Yes, maybe my favorite of his books, Nannykim.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Allan,
Good point and I need to keep working on that!

Thanks!

Desert Pilgrim said...

Ted, have been browsing your great posts. Another profound book of CS Lewis (written before he was converted, however) is called The Abolition of Man. It is really great on what modern technogical society is headed towards. And seems to have been prophetic.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Desert Pilgrim,

Yes, I have a copy of that, took it to the beach last year, I need to finish it. I liked it. (I don't think I did finish it, but even if I did, that's a reread book)

Yes, it's interesting how his writings do seem to be prophetic as to where we are headed.

Thanks for your generous and gracious words, and nice to see you on here again!

Blessings.