Lost Crusader #251 Knowledge of Sin

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.  James 4:17

A comedian used to tell a story about how, as a child, he would concoct elaborate scenarios to put to the priest and ask whether, given the circumstances, his action was a sin. Humor is best when it has a ring of truth that allows us to identify and laugh at ourselves. Children aren’t the only ones to play the “would it be a sin if” game.

Educated adults do it all the time. Psychologists play it as part of their studies. People who dare to talk about religion play it with each other. We play it with friends, and we play it with enemies. It’s a losing game. That is because the game is not about sin. It’s about self-justification. A friend of mine once plead guilty to a traffic fine, then tried to present grounds for violating the law. The judge listened to her defense, fined her, and gave her a piece of advice. “If you want to present extenuating circumstances for your actions, then you plead not guilty.”

By the time we get around to “would it be a sin”, we already know the answer. Atheist, agnostic, or person of faith, we all make moral decisions. Generally speaking, whether we acknowledge it or not, our decisions are based upon the two great commandments. Is our choice a rejection of God? Is that how I want to be treated by others? We may be loath to admit it at times but think about it. Those two criteria, taken together, constitute what is Right and Good.

Who doesn’t know the good they desire for themselves? What people struggle with, is finding the good or right way to get it. We know the right way, but we want extenuating circumstances to excuse ourselves from doing it that way. The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth can lead to three very different versions of the same event. Only one of them is the good way to tell the truth.

C.S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity points out that people, and even devils, are not evil for evil’s sake. Evil persons often seek good things, but they go after them in evil ways. Wanting wealth is not evil until you lie, cheat, and steal to get it. Justice is a good thing until you suborn perjury or plant evidence to get it.

Mankind was good, through and through until we sought to be the arbitrator of good and evil. Adam knew what evil was, that is, he had a head knowledge of what it took to sin. It wasn’t until he tasted sin for himself that he poisoned his soul.

We know good and evil. We know what constitutes sin. Follow what is good and you’ll never have to ask, is this a sin?