Sin (Part 1)

We chrisitans no longer know what sin means. Sin is NOT to figure out what is right and wrong, and get golden stars in sunday school.

Let's think of sin as forms of destruction. Åke Green, the pentecostal anti-gay pastor in Sweden, talked about homosexuals as a lump of cancer. Although most christians in Sweden think he took it too far, (but secretly admire him for his courage not to "compromise with the Bible") most christians still have a very ambivalent view of "what the Bible really teaches about homosexuality". I want to take Åke Green's unloving and degrating image of homosexuals, and apply it to sin. Forget the homosexuality for a moment.

If sin is a type of cancer, it spreads. And where it's gone, it is still giving consequences for funstions of the body. A doctor at Oprah Winfrey's show said: "We all have cancer, but we just don't know it yet". And he said that with a healthy living, the break-outs can be prevented. Some christians think this is what they should do with sin, - control it with a healty living. And when they do, they can show off and tell everybody how good they are. But remember, the doctor said we all have it, even if it is prevented. And a break-out can never be controlled. That's why it's called a break-out.

So..sin...Regard it as a State of destruction, where we make bad choices like when we are judging ourselves, when we are scared, when we refuse to look that woman in the eye that just passed us in the mall. As if she doens't exist. Sin is a way of thinking and a way of choosing. It's in our minds. And it doesn't matter how much we try to control it, because it will always be present . It doesn't matter how good we get at figuring out what is right and what is wrong. Who can outsmart Satan? Not me. Destruction can even be more present in a person who thinks he/she's got full control. Why? Because deception is one of the most vital forms of destruction. And most of us christians are so deceivedin our self-righteous knowledge of right and wrong. People outside church are often more christian than christians, because they are listening to their hearts where God is whipering to all humans, than some "real" Christians who think they control it all.

When it comes to sin, most of the times we don't have the tools to free ourselves. That's why it doens't matter that we know right from wrong. We need God to free us. Yet, the church keeps preaching what we should and shouldn't do. Sisters and brothers in church pick it up and pass it on to others what is allowed, and what is not allowed to do. But some of those sisters and brothers actually get the point, that salvation is grace, they listen to Jesus' own holy spirit who whipsers in their hearts. They start praying for You. And then things happen. You become free. And it is a painful process. It is like being born again. You are new, again, and unexperienced. New and confused, but liberated. And Your catalouge of rights and wrongs is still closed and was of no use in the process.

We cannot save ourselves. We cannot control ourselves to freedom. We cannot get our golden stars in the heavenly sunday school, because we are not our own savors. Let go of the control. Let Jesus save You. Get rid of all the church people that condemn You. Pass their judgements to hell where they belong, be filled with love, and then You may choose Yourself what You find vital to listen to. You have been listening to the wrong voices coming from Your head for too long. Only obey and follow your own true convictions. Somebody pious will now add; -But the Word of the Bible? Shouldn't we first and foremost follow this?! Our hearts are deceitful, aren't they?

Yes, the biggest deception is when we believe we can outsmart our own hearts.We take control, by reading what is right and wrong, and then we try to live it. That's deception. The point is to let Jesus take control, and it is impossible if You refuse to loose it! Loose control, risk sinning, and wait for Jesus to save You when it happens. Read the Bible with all that You are, not only Your mind. Read it with feelings. Read it with Your experience. We have been reading it with our worldly wisdom, our brains, for too long. Be free. Start living. Enjoy God's freedom. Somebody again, will add that it is dangerous to let go of all the rules. Jesus said; Don't be afraid, because I am with You. Fear is when love is not complete. Jesus completely loves You. Get rid of Your fear of sinning, which only leads You into the valley of control.

The holy spirit teaches everybody in their hearts. We were given the Bible to help us. We were not created to help the Bible. Say no to religious control. Say no to false idols, like worshipping the Bible in stead of God. Say no to the christian brainwash of Your own mind. Hold on to your dear Jesus, and let go of everything else. Jump off the cliff.

As christians, we should have known the salvation of Jesus, but we took it in our own hands and re-created the laws and rules like the pharisees. God please forgive us! He took the oak away, and we put it back again on people's shoulders so they ran from church like a pius would run from hell. And now we are wondering why so few find their way to the church. And we are wondering why we're all feeling so guilty and doomed, although we are saved. Secretly we admire ourselves for being in control to jugde ourselves just in case God is waiting up there with golden stars to hand out as we enter the heavens. -For heaven's sake, if he questions us, we've got to be able to give him a reply!

What if you forgot all the rules and just did what you wanted to do? Everything constructive, everything beautiful, admirable and honorable. And what if you refused to believe Your heart when it condemns You, and never did anything religiously destructive ever again?You might become free. Don't misuse the freedom in Christ, they tell us. But I say, if that's the prize for freedom ,then go ahead! Start using it, in stead of leaving it by the road out of fear! It's a gift. If You happen to misuse it, it's ok. It's actuallycompletely ok! Remember that Christ saved You, so You have nothing to fear. Just get on Your feet and move on, and don't let Your heart, the Church or Your sisters and brothers condemn You.

Next sermon will be about Jugdement. (Followed by Homosexuality). See you soon. Freedom and peace.