Sin Management | |
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Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 21291600 United States 03/02/2013 08:21 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Dallas Willard, in The Divine Conspiracy, reports that reliable research indicates: 94 percent of Americans believe in God 74 percent claim to have made a commitment to Jesus Christ 34 percent confess to a “new birth” experience Additional research data, when thoughtfully compared to the same group of poll participants, indicates that unethical behavior, crime, mental distress and disorder, family failures, addictions, and financial misdealings are present at levels similar to that in the secular population. Belief in God, a commitment to Christ, and a “new birth” experience apparently have produced limited change in attitudes and behaviors in the surveyed group of people. This lesson, “Sin Management or Spiritual Transformation?” is an important one! It focuses primarily upon the believer’s ongoing conflict with his sin nature and the most common approaches for dealing with the struggle. You will not be surprised to discover that the usual sin management strategies for dealing with ongoing sin are—in themselves—sinful! Most who fail to see victory over their sin nature hold to a “Genesis 3 only” perspective of the Doctrine of Salvation. Therefore, our lesson plan devotes time to reviewing that doctrine from a Genesis 2 and 3 viewpoint—discussing atonement, justification, reconciliation, adoption, and regeneration. This lesson also contrasts “sin management strategies” with the process of ongoing regeneration, which is the path to true victory over the sin nature. You can take stock of your own approach to dealing with your sin nature by meditating upon the verse below and then using it to guide your conscience, as you prayerfully consider the multiple-choice statement that follows. For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.(2 Corinthians 7:10, NLT) Now, choose the numbered phrase below which most accurately completes the following statement: I deal with the conflict between my new nature and my old sinful nature by: 1. Ignoring my sin because it is irrelevant since past, present, and future sins already have been forgiven; my ticket to heaven already has been punched. 2. Trying to be a “good Christian,” using a “sin management strategy” of avoiding grosser public sins while keeping secret my other sinful attitudes and behaviors. 3. Continuously surrendering myself to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit— [link to www.preachitteachit.org] allowing Him to replace my naturally sinful thoughts and desires with His attitudes and desires, thereby weakening my sinful nature’s hold on me. |
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Life and Love User ID: 26735250 United States 03/02/2013 08:32 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Sin management halts spiritual formation. Quoting: Salt it is spiritual formation that allows God to make us like Christ. Sin management will never get us there. What I am inferring is that "sin management" is a self-control system that shuts us up and closes us down, the exact opposite of the surrender and openness that real relationship requires. We become like that to which we are devoted. - Choose wisely. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 28689320 United States 03/02/2013 08:36 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | hmm - interesting. Grace comes from God right? Actually Jesus dying on the cross. So telling someone? It seems the very act of hiding it is out of embarrassment or shame. How do you tell someone something so sensitive and what if they do not receive it well? Or tell others and shame you completely? That all seems Catholic to me - Confession. Even this is done in private with some anonymity. It seems to me that if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal savior your relationship will allow the Holy Spirit to come in. It would make practical sense to apologize to God upon the sin as this is where forgiveness comes and by grace you are forgiven. I've heard this tale of you can control sin. That if you continue sinning you will be cast out. All of it is against the very nature of what the Bible teaches. You have free will - Your free will guided by the Holy Spirit will help you recognize sin. Your repentance to God will establish your intentions. God sees the heart. Not by works. You will sin until the day you die. Otherwise you would have no need for a savior. 2 cents thinking, that is all. |
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SlimExponent User ID: 17303724 United States 03/02/2013 08:39 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Walking through each day, each encounter evokes past pain I have inflicted. I feel vividly that pain again and again. Day in day out. Since becoming increasingly isolated, now here with only a dumb Chihuahua, the past transgressions increasingly pass before me as if in a life review. I think sinning isn't about curbing your own desires to sin, its about understanding and feeling the pain you inflict on others. Only then do you thoroughly reject the sin. |
Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 21291600 United States 03/02/2013 08:41 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Sin management halts spiritual formation. Quoting: Salt it is spiritual formation that allows God to make us like Christ. Sin management will never get us there. What I am inferring is that "sin management" is a self-control system that shuts us up and closes us down, the exact opposite of the surrender and openness that real relationship requires. exactly |
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Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 21291600 United States 03/02/2013 08:46 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I have found that only by isolating myself with my past sins do they confront me. Quoting: SlimExponent Walking through each day, each encounter evokes past pain I have inflicted. I feel vividly that pain again and again. Day in day out. Since becoming increasingly isolated, now here with only a dumb Chihuahua, the past transgressions increasingly pass before me as if in a life review. I think sinning isn't about curbing your own desires to sin, its about understanding and feeling the pain you inflict on others. Only then do you thoroughly reject the sin. you would be surprised to know that almost every single person (who is concerned with their sin nature) goes thru a lifetime of sin management until the "get it" get the grace message, that is |
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9teen User ID: 20521597 United Kingdom 03/02/2013 08:49 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | "I am unapologetically anti-Zionist. I am not Jewish. I am not anti-Jewish." One hesitates to get into an argument with a Mod for obvious reasons, but the fact of the matter is that Jesus Christ is the King of the Jews. The Jews are the Chosen People and the world will be ruled from Jerusalem. |
714 User ID: 32911959 United States 03/02/2013 08:50 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Grace is when we receive what we don't deserve. Mercy is when we don't receive what we do deserve. how does grace become lasciviousness? Exalted is He from what they utter. Exalted is He from what they imagine. Exalted is He that exists without a place. Exalted is He that was there forever without a time or a beginning. Exalted is He that will be there forever without a time or an end. Exalted is He that will forever be praised. That is your God. |
HardTruth User ID: 34167136 United States 03/02/2013 08:50 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | There Was No Fall The reason humankind was created, according to the christian scriptures was in fact due to "There was no man to till the ground." (Gen 2:5) After the so called fall, humans were run out of Eden to CONTINUE to TILL THE GROUND!! (Gen 3:23) Where is the fall in that? Further confirmation to this truth can be found in the statement of, "From the dust you were taken, to dust you return" or "from the Earth you were taken, to Earth you return." (Gen 3:19) Once again, where is the fall in that? We were created in the flesh as a slave race only to die in the flesh as a slave race!! Once again christian scriptures state, "And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is BECOME AS one of us".. (Gen 3:22) We became AS god, that's ascension, a move upwards to become As god, not a fall!! Once again, where is the fall? The blind man who wasn't a sinner!! John 9: 1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents.... |
Life and Love User ID: 26735250 United States 03/02/2013 08:51 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | One hesitates to get into an argument with a Mod for obvious reasons, but the fact of the matter is that Jesus Christ is the King of the Jews. The Jews are the Chosen People and the world will be ruled from Jerusalem. Quoting: 9teen While this post seems terribly off-topic, I must ask the question of the part I bolded: "Chosen for what?" We become like that to which we are devoted. - Choose wisely. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 7987645 United States 03/02/2013 08:57 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | There are many people, not just Christians, that still think they can control their own sin nature. And, they practice what is known as "sin management". Sin management is about control. It's about believing that they can use their own will power to keep themselves from sinning in order to please God. It's about works, about self-will and the worship of the will as idolatry. It is about believing that one can define their own sin, control their own life and control their own sin, all in their own power. Quoting: Salt Here is what happens when we operate from sin management: We build defenses Think unhealthy self-thoughts (shame driven lies) We are tempted We hide secrets We act out We withdraw from others We justify our behavior and become judgmental toward others We blame people and circumstances We lose hope. This cycle reveals the nature of sin: Sin always delivers a promise of pleasure We become addicted to the pleasure and the pursuit of it The addiction becomes intensely destructive The result - in one way or another is death The Sin Management Cycle also reveals the nature of sin in me and its total reality: Whenever I believe I am in control of my sin, it is in fact controlling me. The power of sin is not in the acting out, it's in the giving oneself the permission to do so. It is not simply a choice to act on temptation, it is a choice to dishonor God. It is saying that God is not in control, I am, and even tho I know this is wrong, I am doing it anyway. The moment I choose to hide in it, or isolate and do it alone, I have made the decision that someone or something will satisfy my sin. All unresolved sin issues are buried deep inside me, but are very much alive. Addictive behaviors are not simply drugs, alcohol, porn, gambling... Apart from physiological aspects, the also express themselves as Mood Swings, Depression, Substance Abuse, Lying, Spending, Unhealthy attention-seeking, Anger, Unforgiveness, Gossip, Manipulation, and on and on and on. If I choose not to disclose my sin issue, at any stage of this sin cycle, this next step is inevitable. My unhealthy self-thoughts and the lies that I tell myself will intensely fuel the entire cycle. If I never step out and trust you, you cannot love me because I will never let you, no matter how much love you have for me, ready and available. ~~This is the bad news about the nature of sin. There is good news however. And, it is about grace. Grace is the only way to stop the sin cycle. It's very simple. All you have to do is tell another person what is going on inside before it happens. The moment you do, at any point along the path, the cycle immediately comes to a screeching halt. It all stops. The power of sin is broken. Yep, it is that simple. You won't believe it at first, but it is very very true. All you have to do is tell someone and the power of sin is broken. Once I clearly understand how God sees me and I realize who I am in Him, then I can: Learn to confess the sin I INTEND to commit rather than confessing the sin after I have already carried it out and face all the consequences that come along with it. This is not only living in the light of God, It allows me to see the truth without having to hide in fear that failure will define me or tell me that I am not enough to please God. It is with my identity in Christ that this is possible. Tell someone in the very first instant that I recognize my vulnerability. The beauty is that we can only be loved when we allow another person to meet our needs. God created us with specific limitations so that it is possible to be loved by others. Instead of pretending we are "doing ok" and we are "fine," we give other people the opportunity to love us. We experience their love by becoming vulnerable and sharing it with another person. When we operate from sin management, we hide. When we hide, we stay in bondage. When we stay in bondage, this tells us we are who our shame dictates we are. We CANNOT operate from grace and humility in this manner. It is impossible. On my very worst day, in my worst thought, during my worst temptation I am "Christ in me." So, in telling on myself, to both God and another person, I can experience the truth that living in holiness is also living with nothing hidden. Then, I am clean, free, healed and whole. We are able to give ourselves away when we are no longer preoccupied with failure. ----This information (shared here in my own words) comes from a book titled "The Cure: What if God Isn't Who You Think He is and Neither are You." John Lynch/Bruce McNicol/Bill Thrall What you're referring to here is the 5th step as per A.A. It does work though. |
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9teen User ID: 20521597 United Kingdom 03/02/2013 09:03 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | One hesitates to get into an argument with a Mod for obvious reasons, but the fact of the matter is that Jesus Christ is the King of the Jews. The Jews are the Chosen People and the world will be ruled from Jerusalem. Quoting: 9teen While this post seems terribly off-topic, I must ask the question of the part I bolded: "Chosen for what?" Chosen (despite their many faults) to bring the message of salvation unto the world. Zec 2:8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. |
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Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 21291600 United States 03/02/2013 09:04 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | from the above link: BIBLICAL MEANING OF SIN In a bottom-line way, the Bible after Genesis 3 is all about sinful humanity and God’s strategy to redeem human beings and reconcile them to Him. Grudem puts it this way: “The history of the human race as presented in Scripture is primarily a history of man in a state of sin and rebellion against God and of God’s plan of redemption to bring man back to himself.”2 Well-known Christian author Jerry Bridges says, “Sin is a serious business to God, and it becomes serious business to us when we reflect upon the fact that every sin, regardless of how seemingly insignificant it appears to us, is an expression of contempt towards the sovereign authority of God.”3 Let’s discuss, then, the nature of sin and how it separates us from God. J. I. Packer once said, “We shall never know what sin really is ‘til we learn to think of it in terms of our relationship with God.”4 Packer is right. We can never properly understand sin apart from its disastrous effects upon our relationship with God. Likewise, we must understand sin in light of its power to cripple our relationships with one another. |
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BxMac User ID: 18472095 United States 03/02/2013 09:11 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Salt, thanks as always for another valuable read. For me, the nature of sin would have me isolated and alone so it can slowly erode my soul. As you wrote, it is through the breaking of that isolation - telling another person and God in the contemplation of, rather than after the fact and enactment of, the sin - that I am free. In my experience, there is nothing worse than feeling apart from God and man. For me, that is the dark night of the soul. Thanks for keeping the darkness visible (in this thread and in our other endeavor) and shing the light of love and truth. On another note, it is no surprise you know of Dallas Willard. Like our friend Charles, Dallas has been a gift to me. |
Life and Love User ID: 26735250 United States 03/02/2013 09:12 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | J. I. Packer once said, “We shall never Quoting: Salt know what sin really is ‘til we learn to think of it in terms of our relationship with God.”4 Packer is right. We can never properly understand sin apart from its disastrous effects upon our relationship with God. Likewise, we must understand sin in light of its power to cripple our relationships with one another. I would agree with this 100%. We become like that to which we are devoted. - Choose wisely. |