Sin

I hate that word. In the more recent Biblical translations, difficult words have received a new coat of cultural paint. But not this word. It seems to have such an archaic, negative connotation. But I cannot think of another word for it. Sin.

I know there were ideas in the Bible that were a sign of the times. Epilepsy - believed to be a possession of demons. Blindness, not a disease but a direct result of some familial sin. Pre-dominant theology agrees that these were misdirected ideas. But what about sin. How do I know it was not misunderstood as well. Jesus' take on sin was definitely not the same as His Pauline counterpart. In fact, Jesus was much more forgiving of our sinful nature than the traditional church of today.

So where do we get our definition. Who sets the standard? Man the creation or God's Incarnation. Rules set by our books of church discipline or the Living Word. Who was the bad guy? According to Jesus, it was not the tax collector, Zaccheus, but the self-righteous Pharisee. And what about His take on the sin. The greater sin was not the woman caught in adultery, but that of those who set her up to be apprehended and stoned.

Perhaps sin is not an action but a chasm God reaches across to meet us. Is it not a thing but space? A chasm created when God created us. A space we must cross to touch Him. To see Him. To be like Him. Not our fault, but our obstacle. An obstacle that makes the journey interesting, difficult, and sometimes near impossible. But, oh my goodness. How it makes that moment of revelation, that epiphany of connection all the sweeter. Sin - the stone that causes us to stumble but also serves as our step stool. How bittersweet it is!