Calling Sin 'Sin!'

Joel Osteen pastors Lakewood Church in Houston Texas. This church is one of the largest if not the largest

mega churche in America, averaging approximately 43,000 people in average weekly attendance. In an interview a few years back, Osteen was asked by Larry King of CNN if he ever used the word “sinners” in his preaching. Osteen replied, “I don’t use it. I never thought about it. But I probably don’t.” 

Never thought about it?   Hmm.  How do you not think about sin and sinners when the Bible uses the word some 2000 times? But Osteen’s approach, which is far removed from biblical teaching, is to focus on the positive and avoid mention of anything negative. This, of course, includes the concept of sin (and its subsequent judgment). 

But this is a BIG problem! Why?  Because humanity’s root problem … is SIN! It is sin that condemns us to hell. Sin which separates us from God. Sin which is at the root of every single problem we face as human beings (click here for some insights on the biblical consequences of sin). Therefore, it is no surprise that increasingly we hear less and less about sin, both inside and outside of the church. After all, the god of this age is at work to remove the concept of sin from the daily conversation of life. In doing so, he can keep us in his snare (2 Timothy 2:25-26). 

Consider the following quotes by Jerry Bridge's in his classic work, The Pursuit of Holiness: 

“Our problem is that we do not take some sin seriously. We have mentally categorized sins into what which is unacceptable and that which is to be tolerated.” 

“Are we willing to call sin 'sin' not because it is big or little, but because God’s Word forbids it? We cannot categorize sin if we are to live a life of holiness. God will not let us get away with that kind of attitude.” 

What is YOUR attitude toward sin? Do you see it as God sees it? Or have you bought into our culture's view of sin -- that, ahh ... it's no big deal?  That is a question you need to answer! 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 

pj