Missing the Mark on Sin

Each year that I have observed Lent there has been a new aspect that I have come to appreciate. This year it is the bold and honest call to repentance and confession. It has reminded my how poorly I am "missing the mark" on the way that I deal with, or don't deal with, sin.

At the risk of being facile, here is some of the most common ways I have seen us miss the mark.

1) Politically Correct It - Rather than referring to sinful motives, habits, attitudes, words, etc. as sinful, we deem them as "unhealthy behaviors," "poor decisions," or "mild vices" that are justifiable because we can make light and laugh about that harmless line of gossip or benign overindulgence with eating or shopping. As pluralism's roots get stronger, grow broader, and dig deeper into the soil of postmodern culture, judgment over sin will become less and less acceptable.

2) Politicize It - Rather than finding the biblical passion for righteousness, holiness, and justice, we find our political parties passion for certain sins that define your family values and commitment to a Christian nation. This is not to say that certain issues in the social/political world do not have sinful implications, but when legislation on someone else's choice bothers me more than my own love of money, something is off. (BTW, I would love to see how legislation against loving money would work out! :-)

3) Militarize It - Before we get ready to pick up our Swords of the Spirit and turn them into Clubs for Self-Righteous Bludgeoning of Others, we must be careful of the other extreme. The first two are part of one extreme of ignoring or truncating a biblical perspective on sin. The other extreme (option 3) is using biblical truth to condemn, abuse, and exclude others. Note that the only time Jesus came close to bludgeoning people with condemnation of their sin was towards the lifelong faithful and religiously elite (that would include me and most of the readers of this blog). Just because we want to resist minimizing sin doesn't mean we have to harm others with its truth. This type of extreme with sin concerns itself with the sin in other churches, in other people, but rarely in ourselves.

Though there are a myriad of ways people deal with, or, better, don't deal with, the reality of sin, these are the most common "missing of the marks" that I have seen hiding behind the facade of Christianity.

Lent proposes none of these. Lent does call boldly for repentance and confession, yes. Lent does call for an honest articulation of sin, absolutely. But Lent calls us to do these things with our own hearts, not other people, directly in the crosshairs.

Just take a few moments to pray the "litany of penance," a common prayer used on Ash Wednesday, and see what a biblical assessment of sin looks like:

Most holy and merciful Father:
I confess that I have sinned by my own fault
in thought, word, and deed;
by what I have done, and by what I have left undone.

I have not loved you with my whole heart, and mind, and strength. I have not loved my neighbors as myself. I have not forgiven others, as I have been forgiven.
Have mercy on me, Lord.

I have been deaf to your call to serve, as Christ served us. I have not been true to the mind of Christ. I have grieved your Holy Spirit.
Have mercy on me, Lord.

I confess to you, Lord, all my past unfaithfulness: the pride, hypocrisy, and impatience of my life.
I confess to you, Lord.

My self-indulgent appetites and ways, and my exploitation of other people,
I confess to you, Lord.

My anger at my own frustration, and my envy of those more fortunate than I,
I confess to you, Lord.

My intemperate love of worldly goods and comforts, and my dishonesty in daily life and work,
I confess to you, Lord.

My negligence in prayer and worship, and my failure to commend the faith that is in me,
I confess to you, Lord.

Accept my repentance, Lord, for the wrongs I have done: for my blindness to human need and suffering, and my indifference to indulgence and curelty,
Accept my repentance, Lord.

For all false judgments, for uncharitable thoughts toward my neighbors, and for my prejudice and contempt towards those who differ from me,
Accept my repentance, Lord.

For my waste and pollution of your creation, and my lack of concern for those who come after us,
Accept my repentance Lord.
Restore me, good Lord, and let your anger depart from me,
Favorably hear me for your mercy is great.
Accomplish in me and all of your church the work of your salvation,
That I may show forth all your glory in the world.

By the cross of your Son, our Lord,
Bring me with all your saints to the joy of his resurrection.

(Book of Common Prayer, 1979)

Maybe we need to being with a repentance for the sin of how we have either minimized sin or abused others with judgment over their sin. Then let us use this season, and this prayer, for a time of soul searching, heart piercing repentance that the Spirit may purify us and make us ready to fulfill His purpose for us. Pray this collect that I wrote for such times as these:

"Consuming Fire,

You are pure.

Burn away all my unholy desires, thoughts, words, actions, and attitudes

That I may by wholly yours

By the work of your Spirit in the name of Jesus, Let it be."