Sense of Sin
It is abhorrent to God; He finds it revolting. It is contrary to His design for human life. Unfortunately, humans frequently dismiss it as inconsequential, as nothing of importance. It is easily pushed aside with a dismissive, “It does not apply to me; it is not important.” What is this thing that God finds so repulsive, while humans disregard or excuse it? It is SIN! Oh yes, individual humans will proclaim the evil of sin…but only when it applies to someone else.
OK, if sin is so repulsive to God, what is it? The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes sin as follows:
“Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as “an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law.”
“Sin is an offense against God: “Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight.” Sin sets itself against God’s love for us and turns our hearts away from it. Like the first sin, it is disobedience, a revolt against God through the will to become “like gods,” knowing and determining good and evil. Sin is thus “love of oneself even to contempt of God.” In this proud self- exaltation, sin is diametrically opposed to the obedience of Jesus, which achieves our salvation.125 “
A simple method of defining sin is to study and internalize the Ten Commandments. They succinctly and concretely advise that which constitutes sin. Jesus instructed us to love God with our whole hearts and whole souls and to love our neighbor as ourselves; the Ten Commandments embody those instructions. They specify the commands that Jesus provided mankind; the Ten Commandments codify those directives of Jesus.
Sin,” as Frank Sheed shrewdly observes in Theology and Sanity, “is always a following of the line of least resistance, towards the deficiency of life: there is less of a man after sin. It is a going with the stream, following one’s own inclination. But it takes no vitality to go with the stream: a dead dog can do it.”
OK, if sin is so contrary to God’s expectations of us, what are the consequences of sin? In this earthly life, sin leads to hatred, destructive relationships with other humans, lack of sincere and lasting love, and even war. The list of negative consequences of sin is endless. However the most disastrous result of sin lies in the spiritual world …. eternal damnation! Yes, Eternal damnation!!! What a steep price to pay for some short -term objective!
Blessed John Henry Newman often contemplated about God and sin in his daily prayers; some of which were published in a volume titled “Everyday Meditations”. Newman lamented about the effects of sin, which include war, pestilence, life sucking diseases, and many other sufferings. Additionally, Newman feared the spiritual damage done to mankind; the soul will suffer much more spiritual harm in hell than the physical harm which one suffers on earth. Yet Newman deeply believed in God’s loving mercy, without diminishing the sins themselves. Newman understood the absolute requirement to avoid sin. He lamented his continual sinning and asked God to help him to avoid sin in the future. Newman understood the absolute requirement to avoid all sin.
The lesson to be learned is simple. Have a sense what sin is, then avoid all sin. When one does sin, repent quickly, trusting in God’s loving mercy.
Suggested Readings
“Everyday Meditations” by John Henry Newman, Sophia Institute Press. Kindle Edition.
“A Line Through the Human Heart, Sinning and Being Forgiven” by James V. Schaal, S.J., Angelico Press, available in Kindle format.