I Corinthians 6

Again, the question of what is a "big" sin and what is "small" comes up. Paul says that we should not be deceived, that: "Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." So, is this the "big" sin list? Are these the really bad sins? But where is the line that defines what sexually immoral really is? Or what is idolatry? What exactly constitutes adultery? Or drunkeness? What does it mean to be a slanderer or a swindler?

In Matthew 5, 6 and 7, Jesus pretty much blows any notions of lines out of the water. He says that lusting after a woman in our heart is adultery. He says that cursing someone out is murder. He says that divorce is wrong and that anyone who marries a divorced woman causes her to commit adultery. He says that swearing is wrong and that saying anything other than yes or no "comes from the evil one" - I guess that means it is sinful.

Paul says that some of the Corinthians were "big" sinners before they 'washed, sanctified and justified in the name of Jesus.' But then what? Obviously they did not stop sinning. Paul writes this letter to them specifically because they are sinning. They are returning to their roots. They are doing things the way they did them before. They have divisions among themselves (competing with each other for position), they are not speaking out against the sin of a member of the church (my guess is that this guy was a popular member, maybe someone who gave a lot of money to the church or some other similar thing), and here they are suing one another.

They have brought their former lives into the church. But is this not in fact normal? Don't all of us struggle with having our former life of sin creep back into our current life that we want to be devoted to God? I have not blogged for 4 days. Why not? I got busy and I just did not seem to have the time to read the Bible, meditate and blog. I have not been a total heathen for the past 4 days, but I made a commitment to myself when I started this blog to spend some time in dedicated meditation of God's word every day. I failed in that commitment. I let my "sin" of busyness, distractions and excuses creep back into my life.

So, where do I go from here? Quit and give up? Should I beat myself up? Should I call three people and confess my "sin?" Should I feel guilty and shame myself into doing better in the future?

I used to think that way. Where did it get me? I would argue, just about no where! I don't see where self flagellation did anything but drove me farther away from God. For awhile I did different, but eventually I felt so bad and guilty that I gave up. Today, instead of feeling bad, I am going to feel great that I read the Bible and blogged today. I am going to feel what Mac said a few days ago. I cannot draw a line between what is sin and what is not. But I can draw a line between "a sinFULL life and one where the individual fights it." I think that fighting it means getting off of the ground and trying again. I will fail in my fight not to sin but I will not fail in my attempt not to continue to sin.

Thanks Mac. I am not sure that I completely understand all of this in a manner that allows me to clearly state, but I know that what is churning in my head is clear and I believe that what is churning in my head is biblical. More reason to continue to read/study the bible - to keep things like this churning. As I recall, butter comes from churning cream. It changes in form/substance but that will only happen if the churning continues. If the churning stops, nothing develops. I will churn (read/study/meditate on the bible) to keep the ideas I have developing. That is what I believe being a follower of Jesus is really all about.