The Nature of SINThe Nature of SIN

Chp. 19-20 Pgs. 185-202Chp. 19-20 Pgs. 185-202

Presented by David M. HaszPresented by David M. Hasz

Written by Charles ColsonWritten by Charles Colson

The Face of EvilThe Face of Evil

The face is frightenly ordinary-The face is frightenly ordinary-When evil strikes the media tries When evil strikes the media tries

to use every excuse but the to use every excuse but the answer:answer:

The excusesThe excuses

Poverty: Most killers cited were Poverty: Most killers cited were middle classmiddle class

Race: hushed racism, but most Race: hushed racism, but most cited where whitecited where white

More ExcusesMore Excuses

Dysfunctional childhood: Dysfunctional childhood: Millions are from these Millions are from these homes and don’t commit homes and don’t commit crimecrime

The realityThe reality

The reality is that the reason for The reality is that the reason for crime is SIN!crime is SIN!

We have a choice to do evil or We have a choice to do evil or good and if you choose evil you good and if you choose evil you SIN!SIN!

Our choice…Our choice…

It is called Wickedness, the It is called Wickedness, the choice is ourschoice is ours

How did we lose touch?How did we lose touch?

A generation ago, children and A generation ago, children and adolescents were still subjected adolescents were still subjected to moral discipline at school, to moral discipline at school, following a long standing tradition following a long standing tradition that regarded moral character as that regarded moral character as important as academic ability.important as academic ability.

Academic TrainingAcademic Training

A - In Adam’s fall we sinned all...A - In Adam’s fall we sinned all...I - The idle fool is whipt at I - The idle fool is whipt at

school...school...

Academic TrainingAcademic Training

X - Xerxes did die, and so must I.X - Xerxes did die, and so must I.Resulted in Franklin as the Resulted in Franklin as the

ambassador to Russia at age 14.ambassador to Russia at age 14.

As a result of this departureAs a result of this departure

Today’s younger generation does Today’s younger generation does not even understand the not even understand the vocabulary of moral responsibility.vocabulary of moral responsibility.

Dr. SpockDr. Spock

Dr. Spock - If a child steals Dr. Spock - If a child steals reward him with a higher reward him with a higher allowance, he needs approval at allowance, he needs approval at home.home.

The Seven Deadly SinsThe Seven Deadly Sins

Lust, Pride, Anger, Envy, Sloth, Lust, Pride, Anger, Envy, Sloth, Greed, and Gluttony.Greed, and Gluttony.

““I don’t think pride is a sin, and I I don’t think pride is a sin, and I think some idiot made that up” - think some idiot made that up” - Kristie AlleyKristie Alley

Seven Deadly SinsSeven Deadly Sins

The seven deadly sins are not The seven deadly sins are not evil acts, but rather universal evil acts, but rather universal human compulsions” - The hosthuman compulsions” - The host

Even in churchEven in church

No one sins or is No one sins or is wicked:wicked:

We have: We have:

IN CHURCH!!IN CHURCH!!

Issues, problems, concerns, Issues, problems, concerns, challenges, stumbling blocks, challenges, stumbling blocks, flesh, old man, etc.flesh, old man, etc.

Call it what it is evil wickedness!Call it what it is evil wickedness!

The Fatal FlawThe Fatal Flaw

The fatal flaw is the myth of The fatal flaw is the myth of human goodness is that it fails to human goodness is that it fails to correspond with what we know correspond with what we know about the world from our own about the world from our own ordinary experience.ordinary experience.

Childhood storiesChildhood stories

Childhood stories of evil, why Childhood stories of evil, why they are necessary and popular.they are necessary and popular.

FictionFiction

Why is it so popular among Why is it so popular among adults?adults?

We need a kind or realism that We need a kind or realism that deals with reality, the reality deals with reality, the reality we are trying so desperately to we are trying so desperately to deny.deny.

Utopian frameworkUtopian framework

It has taken away the tools we It has taken away the tools we need to grapple effectively with need to grapple effectively with genuine evil.genuine evil.

Norway Prison SystemNorway Prison System

We don’t know how to deal with We don’t know how to deal with evil!evil!

Norway Prison System - Norway Prison System - everyone has a mental disorder.everyone has a mental disorder.

What keeps sin in checkWhat keeps sin in check

Either the restraint of conscience Either the restraint of conscience or the restraint of the sword.or the restraint of the sword.

The less citizens have of the The less citizens have of the former, the more the state must former, the more the state must employ of the latter.employ of the latter.

Let’s give up the freedom!Let’s give up the freedom!

If we don’t have the former we If we don’t have the former we are wooed into voluntarily are wooed into voluntarily giving up freedom.giving up freedom.

This is the problemThis is the problem

In this way Utopianism always In this way Utopianism always leads to the giving up of leads to the giving up of liberty.liberty.

To have true liberty you must To have true liberty you must have restraint!have restraint!

A snake...A snake...

Adam and Eve were free either to Adam and Eve were free either to believe God and obey His law or believe God and obey His law or to disobey Him and suffer the to disobey Him and suffer the consequences. This is your consequences. This is your choice as well.choice as well.

Deut. 30:15,19Deut. 30:15,19

ObedienceObedience

Obedience is an internal Obedience is an internal response to God as a personal response to God as a personal being!being!

We are to love God with our We are to love God with our whole being.whole being.

The standard is not changed..The standard is not changed..

Our choice to obey has no effect Our choice to obey has no effect on the standard, it simply on the standard, it simply determines whether we accept determines whether we accept the standard or not. The rest is the standard or not. The rest is already decided.already decided.

Satan: Where sin came fromSatan: Where sin came from

An evil spirit can extend its grip An evil spirit can extend its grip deep into a person’s soul once deep into a person’s soul once that person has made the that person has made the decision to betray the Lord.decision to betray the Lord.

Satan the originatorSatan the originator

Satan is, “the originator of The Satan is, “the originator of The Great Lie” - Francsis Schaffer.Great Lie” - Francsis Schaffer.

The LIEThe LIE

The lie is that we have the The lie is that we have the capacity, like God, to create our capacity, like God, to create our own standard of right and wrong. own standard of right and wrong. It is a lie repeated so often that it It is a lie repeated so often that it has become the accepted wisdom has become the accepted wisdom of our culture.of our culture.

Adam and Eve’s sinAdam and Eve’s sin

Their sin was coveting godlike Their sin was coveting godlike power, craving something that power, craving something that was not rightfully theirs. They was not rightfully theirs. They rejected their nature as created, rejected their nature as created, and tried to be what they could and tried to be what they could never be - divine.never be - divine.

Be GODBe GOD

They wanted to be their own god.They wanted to be their own god.

Our actions have consequencesOur actions have consequences

If they did not, they would be If they did not, they would be meaningless. Furthermore, there meaningless. Furthermore, there would be no final moral would be no final moral accountability and therefore no accountability and therefore no reason for acting morally, which in reason for acting morally, which in turn means there would be not turn means there would be not basis for civilized society.basis for civilized society.

Consequences of SinConsequences of Sin

1) disrupts our relationship with 1) disrupts our relationship with GodGod

2)Alienates us from each other2)Alienates us from each other

Consequences of Sin cont.Consequences of Sin cont.

3)Affects nature3)Affects nature4) death is the result4) death is the resultGood is then distorted by evil: Good is then distorted by evil:

Sex, government, arts, etc.Sex, government, arts, etc.

Paying the PricePaying the Price

Read pg 199 - 200Read pg 199 - 200Two choices:Two choices:First: Leads to moral anarchy - First: Leads to moral anarchy -

TyrannyTyranny

Paying the PricePaying the Price

Second: makes possible and Second: makes possible and ordered and morally responsible ordered and morally responsible societysociety

Where do we go from here?Where do we go from here?

Put your faith into action:Put your faith into action:WitnessingWitnessing

Where do we go from here?Where do we go from here?

TestifyingTestifyingAction: Get involved in your Action: Get involved in your

society.society.