The vanishing of sin

I grew up on a farm and enjoyed the country life. When I was young, my father had put an electric fence around the pasture in order to try and keep the cows from getting out (although, with cows, it never works. They still managed to escape). I remember my dad always warning me “don’t get near that fence. It will shock you”. Being the adventurous individual I was, I had to try it out anyway. One day I got zapped hard when I touched the fence. The lesson: dad was right. The consequences of disobedience and not listening to his warning proved painful. The result: I never touched the fence again (even when dad assured me it was turned off).

Sin is a lot like that electric fence to our souls. God the Father warns us not to get close to sin and not to enter into sin. He warns us there are consequences and it will be painful.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

It seems that our Church leadership does not want to speak of sin anymore. I rarely hear messages from those within leadership about the consequences and dangers of sin. From the pope all the way down to the priests, everyone speaks of “love” and “compassion” and the forgiveness of Christ. I agree with every single piece of that because our God IS love and our God showers us with compassion and forgiveness. However, I find it difficult to expect someone to have a “call to conversion” (as many leaders like to say) without first having an understanding that we have all sinned. Without sin, what exactly is there a conversion from?

“All have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)

Touching the electric fence had consequences. They were painful consequences that served as a reminder to never do that again. By ignoring the call to repentance, the turning away from sin, and simply saying we need a conversion, it’s like saying that you can keep touching the fence and getting zapped because your father loves you anyway and if you want to do it then go ahead and get shocked again.

Yes, the gift of God’s forgiveness is always open to us regardless of how many times we may sin. The gift of God’s forgiveness lies in wait no matter if we keep putting ourselves through pain or not. However, when I went into the house crying after being shocked by the fence, both of my parents looked at me and said “we told you not to get near the fence. I bet you learned your lesson, didn’t you?” Yep, sure did.

I can’t imagine running into the house crying after being shocked by the fence and my parents telling me “it’s okay. We love you whether you get shocked every day or not. It’s normal to touch an electric fence and get zapped daily. Go ahead and do it again if that’s what you want to do.” I feel sometimes that is the attitude of our church leadership. It’s okay to sin. Go ahead and do it again. It’s perfectly normal and okay. God loves you anyway.

If we are to expect one to have a conversion of their heart, turn from sin and turn toward Christ, then we must call them to repentance. The sad reality is I have not heard a homily about the severity of sin in a very long time. I have not heard the pope or bishops urge people to sin or call out the sins of our day. Instead, I only hear the “warm, fuzzy Jesus” messages. Sin has vanished from homilies. Sin has disappeared from the mouths of Church leaders.

But, rest assured. It has certainly not disappeared from the mouth of Christ. It was sin that put Christ on the cross. It was sin that drove the nails through His hands and feet. It was sin that pierced His side. It was your sin. It was my sin. It was your pride, greed, arrogance, and gossip that put him on the cross. It was your unforgiveness of your neighbor, your selfishness and lack of charity, and it was your hatred and anger toward others that drove the nails in his feet. It was your acceptance of abortion, homosexuality, adultery, or silence in the face of the destruction of holy places and statues that drove the spear in His side.

Regardless of what may or may not be spoken from the mouths of those who are the successors of the apostles (though, weak and cowardice as they are), you can be guaranteed that Christ has not forgotten about your sin and Christ still expects and requires repentance. Without repentance there is no conversion. Without conversion, there is no eternal life with Christ.