To Sin, or NOT to Sin. That Is the Question.

The philosophy Jesus gives us in Matthew 18 is, “Three strikes—you’re out!” (That is until you’re ready to reconcile.) If someone sins against you, you should 1) speak with them alone, 2) then with another from the church (community), and finally 3) with the whole church.

So, what is “sin”?

Sin comes from the Greek word Hamartia, which means “to miss the mark or target,” as in missing a target in archery. So, how do we come back from “missing the mark”? By seeing you missed, admitting you need to practice the shot, then changing your technique until you get it right. The key here is 1) seeing, 2) admitting, and 3) changing. This is reconciliation. Reconciling or doing what it takes to hit the mark and be reunited into a community.

We humans have a terrible habit of glossing over or not wanting to admit seeing the lead-up to the evil act, then jumping on the sin as if it came out of nowhere. We justify, “It’s okay if I do it just this once …” or “Maybe it’s time to walk on the wild side?” or “If I don’t admit the problem, maybe it’ll go away.” That’s like refusing to train your puppy to give a sign when it needs to go outside, then being upset when the poor pooch does its business on your carpet!

So, is sin only a personal issue, or can groups or communities sin?

I’ll admit it: I admire some practices of the other Abrahamic religions—Judaism and Islam. The Jews have Yom Kippur, or the “Day of Atonement,” where they as a people quite literally beg God for atonement and reconciliation from sin as a people for their collective sin. And Muslims have Ramadan, where they detach from worldly pleasures and focus on one’s inner self, performing good deeds to atone for any collective sin they, as a people, have committed.

In contrast, we Catholics have a personal sacrament—Reconciliation—but not a communal one, one that would allow us to atone and reconcile as a Faith or community.

Am I my brother’s (or sister’s) keeper?

Sin doesn’t just happen! There are signs that lead up to the big sin event—signs we need to become aware. Paul essentially tells us in Romans 13 that sin is any action that doesn’t show love for another—putting your own good first.

We ARE responsible for helping others do the right thing, keeping them on the right path, helping them to grow their conscience, according to Ezekiel 33. In this case, WE are the “Watchmen” for doing the right thing. Who wouldn’t correct a child if they were going to touch a hot stove or throw a rock through the neighbor’s window? How is it any different when we see people in our community, our city, or our nation not doing the loving thing for another?

Is pointing out sinful acts scary? It can be. Is it risky? It can be. Remember, Jesus never promised it would be easy! So, is it my job to be “my brother’s or sister’s keeper”?

Well, I think you know the answer to that.

Copyright 2023 Ben Bongers