At The Heart of Sin

We seem to talk a lot about sin . . . or about specific sins: lying, cheating, murder . . . you know . . . "The List." But there's seemingly little discussion on the source of our sin. Granted we are sinful by nature, but it's as if we willingly accept that flawed feature and move on through life trying to avoid over-doing "The List."

But why do we do the un-loving, un-caring, and un-thinkable things that we do? What is at the heart of our darkness? What is the splinter in our being that infects us with sin?

Here's why I ask: Because if I know "why" I sin, what is at the root of it all, then maybe there is a chance I can become more aware of why I do what I do and per chance do a little less of it.

Like most things, if you want to know the answer, simply start at the beginning. And the beginning of sin starts in The Garden.

"So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate," Genesis 3:6

And sin became born of greed.

"and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself." Genesis 3:8-10

And like the second son . . . fear is born.

Read on and you'll find that Adam's and Eve's fear leads them to blame others for their behavior. Sounds familiar . . . because we all have our excuses, right? All too often we rely on our excuses and our crutched habits for causing our sin. Perhaps that's a symptom of not understanding the source of our errant behaviors.

The inner circles of Marketing, Advertising, and Sales all understand that the two biggest motivators of consumer behavior are Fear and Greed. Examine the message behind most good advertising and you'll soon discover the reasons you should buy are likely because: it's for a limited time, limited edition your neighbors have one . . . or worse yet may get one before you do . . . chicks will dig you (or not, if you don't buy one soon) . . . your family will be safer, healthier, and happier . . . you'll sleep easier, jump higher, feel more confident, look like you did in High School . . . and of course . . . you'll be smarter.

Examine the messages you get from why we do some of the shameful things we do and the message is much the same today as it was in The Garden . . . "you can have it all!" . . . and the "dark-side" is counting on your fear and greed for you to buy in.

On the occasion I sit and reflect on a day that hasn't gone so well relative to "good versus evil" I often find that my short-comings are a result of either giving into my fear or playing into the false hope of greed. Much like the "buyer's remorse" we often experience I'm confronted with one of two choices: either blame those around me for "making" me do the things I do . . . or dig deeply into the soil of my own Eden and attack the roots of my own fear and greed.

Comments

[Lou]

Right on! I love being able to see the core of the apple pictured next to your post. That says it all. We partake in the sin and as we approach the core, we simply walk away without dealing with "IT" -- the core/heart of sin. I guess, deep inside, we enjoy the sweaty palms and heart palpitations we experience when the allure of sin (the waxy skin of the apple) grabs our being. It is only when we deal with the truth of the decaying core that we see sin for the snare that it is. Thank you for helping us see that so clearly! Be blessed and encouraged, my friend!

[Ben]

Really good stuff!