Just what is sin? Who decides what is or isn't sin?

Question and Answer

In our culture it has become generally accepted that truth and morals are relative, that there are no objective or absolute truths and morals. All questions of right and wrong are seen as relative to the situation or to the culture or to each individual personal opinion. Since no one's opinion is more valuable than anyone else's, each of us must personally decide what is right and wrong for us. To claim there are absolute truths about right and wrong is viewed as being intolerant, bigoted or judgmental the three great "sins" of our postmodern secular culture.

Interestingly enough, those who take the "all truth is relative" approach, constantly find themselves having to make judgments about what is true, what is right and what is good. As they do this, they cannot help but judge other people with whom they disagree. With no absolute measuring stick about right and wrong, the ultimate result is moral chaos. According to the Bible, God has clearly shown us how to know what is objectively and absolutely right and wrong. In other words, God has defined sin for us and He has done it in two ways: general revelation (the moral law planted within each one of us) and special revelation (the Scriptures).

Paul describes the universal moral law (general revelation) in Romans 1: "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse" (v. 20). Paul goes on to say that men knew God through nature and the very world around them, but they neither glorified God nor thanked Him and instead plunged into idolatry serving created things rather than their creator (see vv. 21-25). As for special revelation, Scripture is full of definitions for sin, which all boil down to breaking God's laws or going against God's will. Summed up, these definitions might be stated: Sin is proud, independent rebellion against God in active or passive form.

To put it in scriptural terms, "Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness" (1 John 3:4). Also, "all wrongdoing is sin" (1 John 5:17).

Examples of actively breaking God's laws or doing wrong can be summed up quite well in reviewing the Ten Commandments. Active sin includes such things as lying, stealing, murder and adultery. Passive sin is subtler, because it may not involve actions but may instead be a matter of attitude or thought. We can passively sin as our thoughts draw us into lust, selfishness, greed, jealousy, pride, indifference and lack of love.

James describes passive sin when he says, "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins" (Jas. 4:17). Passive sin is summed up in the attitude that says to God or others, "Get lost, you're cramping my style. I'm too busy for you." All of us sin actively and passively. As John puts it, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8). Isaiah zeros in on our basic nature this way: "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isa. 53:6).