Sin, Repentance, and Theological Liberalism

Sin and repentance are two enormous topics in Holy Scripture. You can hardly turn a page in your awesome leather-bound copy of Holy Writ without encountering these topics in one way, shape, or form.

Theologically, I think when we boil these topics down, they are not really that difficult to figure out. Here are the main points to remember.

1. We are all sinners. Universally. No one excluded. Romans 3:23 is awfully clear about this.

Rom 3:23: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

2. God, in Scripture, defines what sin is. We do not get to define what sin is or is not depending on personal preference or cultural dictates. The Ten Commandments are a good starting point here. But Scripture also gives numerous other specific examples. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 is a good example of this.

1 Cor 6:9-11: Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed,you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

3. Jesus says that we must repent of our sin.

St. Luke 13:5: No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Or, to summarize, If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8-10)

Scripture also has some harsh words for those who are unrepentant of their sin.

Hebrews 10:26-27: For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

This is to say, a person who is unrepentant of their sins is not in Christ.

So what about these modern day liberal theologies that adapt to the culture around us and call all sorts of things good and normal that Scripture plainly calls sin?

Well, in that case, I recommend reading the Holy Scriptures carefully. 1. We are all sinners. 2. God tells us what sin is - not our culture, and certainly not us. 3. Christ Himself tells us that sin is to be repented of. St. John tells us to confess it. The author to the Hebrews tells us that a person who is unrepentant is not in a state of grace.

It's not that difficult. A person who calls sin good and normal and does not repent of it is not a Christian.

Martin Luther understood this. His very first thesis posted on the door of the Wittenberg Church says this:

1. When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ``Repent'' (Mt 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.

Sin is something to be repented of, not celebrated. Agree with Jesus, not culture.

The Old Testament prophet Isaiah has some harsh words for these sorts of ideas.

Isaiah 5:20: Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

It's high time that we call a spade a spade. Liberal theology and its incessant obsession with adapting God's Word to fit the culture around us, even at the expense of calling evil good and normal, must be outed for exactly what it is.

Not Christian.

Anti-Jesus.

Darkness.

Blasphemous.

Evil.

Is that clear enough?

+Pax+