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The "S-Word"
- 12/26/06
- 21
I’ve often wondered if children in school continue to read Huckleberry Finn. It is a truly great story by a master storyteller and is a book I enjoyed a great deal when we read it in the eighth grade. I can still remember my teacher, who also happened to be the school’s principal, reading the story aloud to us and helping us understand it. While it is a great story, it is also one that has a certain word appear many times. It’s that word that has only recently, I believe, come to be known as the “n-word.” Just uttering that word these days is enough to end careers and destroy friendships. And yet, even a few decades ago, it was considered acceptable in a story. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to learn that Huckleberry Finn is no longer read in schools simply because of that word.
Words come and go. There are thousands of words that have fallen out of use or have had their meanings changed as time has passed and the language has evolved. And, of course, many thousands more have been introduced into the language, some coined to express something very specific (i.e., “metrosexual”) and some to describe a new object or technology. Sometimes it is good for words to pass out of common use, and the “n-word” is one of these words. Hurtful, derogatory and laden with bad memories, there is no benefit to maintaining this word. But there are other words that we need to maintain, we need to keep in our common lexicon.
One of these words, a word we need to hold onto, is “sin.” This word is found only rarely now outside the bounds of the church, and sadly, almost as rarely within. In the past few weeks I’ve read several books which speak of errors, mistakes and bad judgment, but never of sin. All of these books are written by and about Christians. In his autobiography, Shawn Alexander writes about making many mistakes in his life, but never of committing sin. When writing about Joel Osteen, his biographer admits mistakes in Osteen’s life, but never charges him with sin. Dr. Phil’s wife, Robin McGraw, has done many dumb things, but to the point of the book I’ve read, has not sinned. And so on. Humans seem eager to admit mistakes and error, but loathe to admit sin.
There is something about this word, this little “s-word,” that offends people. We are not offended by mistakes. We are offended by sin. The problem is that sin and mistakes are not the same thing.
I’ve thought about this for a while now and it seems to me that the reason we are afraid to admit sin lies in its definition. Where a mistake is something like “a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention”, according to the Shorter Catechism, “sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.” Mistakes are inevitable in this life and, while they may be a product of the Fall, they are not necessarily sinful. I may make a mistake about the time I am to pick my son up from school and arrive fifteen minutes late. This is not sinful, but it is a mistake. I have made a mistake and my son has suffered just a little bit as he had to wait a few minutes. And so I apologize to my son and the situation is over. But when I sin against my son, perhaps by snapping at him when he is inquisitive and I am tired and grumpy, I have not made a mistake; I have sinned. I have offended both my son and God. I have offended my son but have ultimately offended God. David says in Psalm 51:4 “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.” Of course David had also sinned against Bathsheba and Uriah and the whole nation of Israel. And yet he knew that his ultimate sin was against God.
And so it seems that we are afraid to admit sin because it requires that we admit we have offended God. And when we admit to offending God, we admit that we are deserving of His punishment. We are deserving of His wrath. We are deserving of hell. And who wants to admit this? To admit to this is to go against our sinful natures and all that we believe about ourselves.
When we refuse to utter the “s-word,” and worse, when we refuse to view ourselves as sinners, we refuse to admit our need of a Savior. We tacitly suggest that we can remedy our own mistakes rather than relying on the Savior who has paid for sin.
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband to Aileen and a father to three young children. I worship and serve as a pastor at 
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Comments (21)
Nice thoughts.
I heard C. J. Mahaney preach a sermon on the doctrine of sin which was very good, and incredibly balanced.He starts off by saying, with all the passion that he usually displays, “I love the doctrine of sin!”
Thanks for always sharing thoughts that the body of Christ needs to hear.
Granted, there is so much that could be said about this. But suffice it to say that without sin, there would be no need for a savior.
TomDoctrine Matters
2nd year AP English, Eau Claire Memorial Public School (Wisconsin) still teaches Huck Finn.
My daughter hates it.
“Every one says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.” - C.S. Lewis
I can relate to this quote very well. On this topic of sin, as far as the secular culture is concerned, it is pretty apparent why it is not a popular word or concept to think about. Our autonomous nature rejects the idea that there is a supernatural power outside of ourselves that effects our actions and behavior. The unbeliever wants to believe that they are in control and that as long as they try hard enough, they are able to morally perfect lives. Under this ideal, when they do sin, they do not take ownership of it completely, they internally find an excuse for their misbehavior.
As far as the “S” word in regards to the Church, I have found that is seems that the prevailing or predominant attitude that exists in the Gods covenant community in our culture today is that of self-esteem, self-reliance and being positive and energetic. “It won’t do anyone any good, to point out or focus on our mistakes.” “Instead we need to act like we’re perfect, happy people.” “We are capable of leading positive, happy lives as long as we put our mind to it.”
The problem with this is that we are effected by sin. Our thoughts and our actions are constantly effected by sin. Even though, we are able to fight our sinful nature and we are able to do good and behave ourselves for the most part in the presence of our family and friends in the Church, we are still prone to and inevitably will sin and make mistakes and say or do things that will offend and or harm the people around us.
This of course is reality and it is often a hard fact. It is hard to deal with our own and others sin. It is hard to forgive people and continue loving them even though they might be “imperfect,” and it is hard for them to do the same when you sin against them.
The Church (Gods covenant community) is made of both believers and non-believers. This makes it even harder because there are those who are still young in the sanctifying work of our savior and those who haven’t yet experienced this work and are not yet convicted by Gods Word to be loving and forgiving.
So as far as the Church is concerned, it seems that it has been easier to try to ignore or hide our sin instead of confront it and deal with it. I have found that another reality that seems to exist in the Church today is the lack of exhortation coming from each other and the pulpit. Again this has to do with an over all attitude of self-esteem/positiveness. People don’t want to be told how they are sinful and what they need to do to walk straighter paths for God. They don’t want to be made to feel that they are morally bankrupt and that they need Christ. So instead, they have decided to ignore this essential part of the Gospel.
While I do agree that too much of a focus on sin and exhortation every week can be unedifying; not to focus on it at all is equally unedifying. Exhortation is necessary because as I’ve pointed out, the body consists of believers and non-believers. There are those who are not being sanctified in the spirit that need to be reminded to check themselves. Exhortation is just as necessary in the Church today as it was in the New Testament church. Learning about sin and being exhorted to turn from it leads to repentance which is what we do when we admit to our own inability to have a right relationship with God and our need to rely on Jesus as our mediator. Without guilt, self examination and asking God for forgiveness then we truly aren’t understanding the gospel.
So therefore “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:8-9
“8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.” 1 Peter 4:8-9
and “16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” James 5:16
In His grace,
Dave
I agree with your assessment of the Church regarding the s-word; however, I disagree that books like Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer should be pulled from schools because of the n-word (not that you advocate that they should be). They are works by a well-known literary giant and they stand as a marker in time. Twain was a very talented writer. The use of metaphor in Huck Finn is especially masterful. These stories are also a product of their time; of the cultural and socio-political environment in which they were written; whether or not Twain approved of the way in which blacks (and American Indians, by the way) were treated, I cannot say. He may well have been dispassionately recording the general attitude of some of the people who lived during his time, while refraining from comment one way or the other. I cannot speculate on his motives.
The point is, there is much that was written before our own enlightened times that could offend any number of ethnic groups; do we start whitewashing and/or doing away with the past, with all its warts and flaws? Or do we see it for what it is, glean from it what is good and disregard the rest? Remember, a certain group who was offended by Michelangelo’s “Last Judgment” felt justified in taking a paintbrush in hand to “revise” and do away with what they felt was a vulgar display and in so doing, marred a masterpiece. I think most people today wish they had exercised a little restraint.
I just think we need to be careful, especially with other people’s works. I don’t like the n-word any more than you do, but it was and is (along with far worse evils) a part of our fallen world. It is ugly and wrong, there is no doubt, but we simply cannot sanitize the world to the point where no one is offended, ever, by anything. It isn’t our job. And personally, I find the denigration of Christianity in America far more disturbing.
I know the point of your post was about the fact that the Church winks at the idea of sin, but as an artist, I felt I had to “take up” for Mark Twain.
You wrote: sin and mistakes are not the same thing
Which made me think of Hebrews 9:7 Sins committed in ignorance
I find it interesting that there was an OT blood sacrifice for such sins committed in ignorance (mistakes), but none for deliberate sins. The sacrifice for deliberate sin is a broken and contrite heart (true repentance). (see Psalm 51:16-17)Think about that in light of the blood Christ shed for our sins past, present and future and the need for repentance regarding the deliberate sins that we commit now. Even though we are clothed in His righteousness, repentance for those deliberate sins is necessary for our worship to be the “firstfruits.”
Do not give fair names to foul sins; call them what you will, they will smell no sweeter. What God sees them to be, that do you labour to feel them to be, and with all openness of heart acknowledge their real character.”
-Charles Spurgeon-
This is a good piece. I often experience churches to be repentance-free zones, for exactly this reason. If you are not aware that you are a sinner, then you do not need to repent. And that, of course, leads to an arrogant disregard of Jesus :”Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” ”
The human-centric relativist theology of the modern church serves to fit God into human lives, instead of teaching people to be Godly.
I’m so glad sin is an offensive word! This weekend I had a long conversation with a woman who is New Age in faith. Every time I used the word “sin” she squirmed in her seat and grew more uncomfortable. I was surprised when she eventually cut me off and told me to find another word to use — like “imperfection” or “mistake.” I was tempted to oblige just to keep the conversation going but didn’t. In the end God softened her heart and brought her (and me) to tears as we talked about painful sins that, as it turns out, had affected her personally and destroyed her marriage.
As you said, Tim, she did not see a need for a Savior apart from seeing herself as a sinner. She didn’t go away a believer but said she had things to think about. Had I not stood my ground, I doubt there would be much at all to think about.
I’m so grateful for the example of men in my life like C.J. Mahaney who do not shy away from the doctrine of sin. Calling it what it is humbles us and keeps us near the cross.
Matt
A fellow teacher attended a seeker friendly church. He told me that they did away with using the word “sin”. They call it “living life your own way”. We had quite the debate about use of language. They had also done away with words like justification, propitiation, sanctification. Their reasoning is that most people would not understand what these words mean. Sad.
“I disagree that books like Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer should be pulled from schools because of the n-word”
I quite agree that these books should still be in the schools. I simply meant that the “n-word” should not be in common use anymore. I’m glad that the word is falling out of favor. But I would agree that we need to hold on to Mark Twain’s works (even with that word appearing continually).
candyinsierras: “A fellow teacher attended a seeker friendly church. He told me that they did away with using the word “sin”. They call it “living life your own way”. We had quite the debate about use of language. They had also done away with words like justification, propitiation, sanctification. Their reasoning is that most people would not understand what these words mean. Sad.”
And most people in highschool don’t understand the significance of the phrase “I love you”, or, better yet, “God loves you”. Shall we abandon those phrases, too?
Tim Challies: “But I would agree that we need to hold on to Mark Twain’s works (even with that word appearing continually).”
So where do we draw the line? Why do we hold onto his works? Is brilliance marred still brilliance? When, and why and not?
Sincerely in Christ,Hidden One.
The rather large seeker church we used to be members of at least uses/used the term “sin” in its articles of faith on their website, although a bad definition of it, in my opinion.
The previous statement said that all humans are marred by an “attitude” of disobedience called SIN.
It currently states that “All of us are marred by a disobedient nature toward God called SIN.”
Maybe that’s a little better, but it still seems too soft compared to this definition I found on the web: 1. A transgression of a religious or moral law, especially when deliberate. 2. Theologya. Deliberate disobedience to the known will of God.b. A condition of estrangement from God resulting from such disobedience.3. Something regarded as being shameful, deplorable, or utterly wrong.
I quite agree that these books should still be in the schools. I simply meant that the “n-word” should not be in common use anymore. I’m glad that the word is falling out of favor. But I would agree that we need to hold on to Mark Twain’s works (even with that word appearing continually).
The word is falling out of favor everywhere but within the black community. I don’t like racial slurs no matter whom they target - for instance, I dislike the word “cracker” as much as the n-word, and any student of mine who uses it is subject to the same discipline as those who use the n-word or any other racial slur. No distinctions!
So where do we draw the line? Why do we hold onto his works? Is brilliance marred still brilliance? When, and why and not?
Human brilliance is always marred by virtue of the fact that it is the result (sometimes) of the creative efforts of man, an imperfect, fallen creature. Only God’s works are pure and untainted.
Blessings all.
Insightful, to say the least. I almost get chills thinking how true it might be that one day the “s” word will not be spoken of in our churches. It is already happening in many parts of the “rationalized christian” world today.
I posted something similar in content on my blog only yesterday http://adventurefaith.blogspot.com/2006/12/life-in-north-america-is-trip.html#links
Be warned… there is another “s” word in the post which I used on purpose to make a very important point.
When we refuse to utter the “s-word,” and worse, when we refuse to view ourselves as sinners, we refuse to admit our need of a Savior.
These are very helpful thoughts.
funny, I was just reading 1 John this morning. Boy he does a lot of talking about sin, and it is pretty plain! It got me thinking about how much Paul and the other NT writers (and JESUS!) address sin, but how quick we are to dismiss it. I know that I beat around the bush whenever I am discussing sin. I am praying that my ‘yes would be yes’ in regards to talking about sin - that I would call it what it is!
Good post. The song “Justified” by According to John would be a great compliment to this piece.
Just found your blog today and this piece on the s-word really spoke to my heart. The one idea that seems to have disappeared from the lexicon of the church over the past 20 or so years is “repentance”. Sin has been downgraded from an offence against God to a “mistake”. If there is no sin, there is no repentance. If there is no repentance, there is no salvation. Are churches today now filled with people confident and happy that they are heading for an eternity in heaven, when they are nothing of the sort? That’s the worry that keeps me awake at night. Has the seeker-sensitive movement created an entire generation who are walking along the wide and wonderful path? Cos we know where that one leads to. Question is, what can we do about it? What can *I* do about it? Any answers??Thank you for your insights :)
My name is Brad Richter 42 year old contractor,husband and father of 5. Yesterday I read the “s”word piece [great thoughts by the way]. I have always hesitated in responding to posts for the lack of wisdom or creativity, but yesterday on the way to work the “s” word piece stayed with me . I felt a gentle nudge to reply, for I am an expert in the area of “Sin”, not others but my own. Over the last 10 years my relationship with my savior Jesus has really grown and so has my awarness to “sin”, gone are the days of the “big sins” they ushered in the days of the “creative sins”. You know the ones that are more socially acceptable in the body of Christ. The reality is I have become a master at competing for Gods glory in the name of Jesus. Very few actions in my life are pure in motive, if they do happen it is usually by accident.Its amazing how strong pride can be in my life. Words like “I am sorry” “I was wrong” “I have sinned against you” “please forgive me” do not roll off my tongue very easy.But God had mercy on my soul and nailed my “sins” to the cross as His Son took my place. It is amazing how true repentance refocuses my mind and heart to the greatest gift I will ever receive “Jesus” and to the greatest race I could ever run. Brad”let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the “sin” which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,”
I agree with Wonkyhead about Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. Mark Twain’s works are great masterpieces in the emerging American literature of the westward-moving days. His works reflect the way people were at that time, including the way they talked—and that included the common use of the “n-word.” At that time, the “n-word” did not hold as much insult, hurt, and humiliation as it came to hold not much later, it seems to me. And Twain was very much against treating black people as less than human. We see in Huck Finn that Huck saw the slave Jim as a father figure whom he loved dearly. He was very conflicted over whether he ought to break the law and help Jim escape or obey the law and turn him in. His final decision was the just one, as he realized that the law was wrong.
When I was a child (lo, these many years ago in the fifties), people said the “n-word” freely, although it was falling out of favor. I was forbidden to say it, even though my grandmother did, and I was not allowed to criticize her for it—conflict!
There was a very old black man who went through town every day driving his horse-drawn wagon of tools; his name was “N-word” Dink. Everybody thought highly of him, and nobody meant to be disrespectful (as far as I knew, although there probably were plenty who did) in calling him that. My mother said I was not to call him “N-word” Dink, but MR. Dink. I thought that was weird, but in my heart, I knew she was right.
And as for sin, the “s-word,” most people are pretty uncomfortable about thinking of themselves in terms of that. As someone said, they’d rather think of “mistake” or “bad decision.” Churches steer clear of it, I think, for fear of offending people
Thanks for an insightful post!