the church of the
ascension
in the city of
new york
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Saturday, March 21
Psalm 90 / Romans 6:12-23 / John 8:47-59
It's easy to think Paul is obsessed with sin and even sex when we hear this Epistle lesson. But in all likelihood, it's our Western minds that turn his arguments and analogies into the Church Lady's finger-wagging.
I think more than this, however, Paul's actually telling us not to obsess over sin, whatever form it takes. He's saying neither "if it feels good, do it" nor "if it feels good, you can't do it." Instead, Paul says to "not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies." He's arguing against two points of view here, it seems to me. On the one hand, he pretty clearly says that, while no one may be in service to sin in hope of death, death is still the fatal result of a life dedicated to sin, whether in its practice or its avoidance (which should give the Church Lady some pause). Conversely, the point of becoming a slave to righteousness is not to avoid sin (although that seems to be the result) but to rejoice in sanctification. We don't follow Jesus to avoid death; we follow Jesus to embrace life.
While we can disappoint God or even break God's heart by our actions, nothing we might do can separate us from the love of God. Once I truly accept that, perhaps I'll quit trying to prove otherwise.
— Derek Baker
It's easy to think Paul is obsessed with sin and even sex when we hear this Epistle lesson. But in all likelihood, it's our Western minds that turn his arguments and analogies into the Church Lady's finger-wagging.
I think more than this, however, Paul's actually telling us not to obsess over sin, whatever form it takes. He's saying neither "if it feels good, do it" nor "if it feels good, you can't do it." Instead, Paul says to "not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies." He's arguing against two points of view here, it seems to me. On the one hand, he pretty clearly says that, while no one may be in service to sin in hope of death, death is still the fatal result of a life dedicated to sin, whether in its practice or its avoidance (which should give the Church Lady some pause). Conversely, the point of becoming a slave to righteousness is not to avoid sin (although that seems to be the result) but to rejoice in sanctification. We don't follow Jesus to avoid death; we follow Jesus to embrace life.
While we can disappoint God or even break God's heart by our actions, nothing we might do can separate us from the love of God. Once I truly accept that, perhaps I'll quit trying to prove otherwise.
— Derek Baker
