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%CONCEPTION SIN EVIL 970905
Each of our diverse conceptions of the nature of sin
and of evil contributes in its own way to our diverse sets
of common ways to respond to our encounters with sin
and/or evil. No one conception of the nature of sin
and/or of evil in and of itself determines how we respond
to our encounters with sin and/or evil; they all play
roles in various ways. If we pretend that only one
conception of the nature of sin and/or of evil is the
exclusive determinant of how we respond --- we are
deceiving ourselves and alienating ourselves from
information which could help reconcile ourselves with
ourselves and with each other.
Consider a number of the various conceptions of sin
and/or of evil --- and what the conceptions lead us
towards.
1. Sin and/or evil are of the Devil; the ultimate
personal power which engenders all sin and all evil.
2. Sin and/or evil have to do with being imperfect,
rather than with perfection of God and all Godly things.
3. Sin and/or evil have to do with the earthly realm
below, rather than with the heavenly realm above.
4. Sin and/or evil have to do with the desires and
behaviors of the flesh, rather than with the desires and
behaviors of the spirit and of the spiritual realm.
5. Sin and/or evil have to do with rebellion and
non-conformity, rather than with proper discipline and
conformity to the will of God.
6. Sin and/or evil have to do with indifference
towards, and/or the rejection of, scriptural truths and
commandments.
7. Sin and/or evil have to do with being different
from true believers in, and doers of, the the Word of God.
8. Sin and/or evil have to do with being unclean;
i.e., infected by the Devil and His agents of evil.
9. There are of course other conceptions of the
nature of sin and/or evil.
With each conception of the nature of sin and/or evil
are associated patterns of response which make sense in
the "light" of the conception. Many of those patterns of
response are inherently alienative --- doing great damage
to the relationships between the responders and those to
whom they are responding. The patterns of response are
often:
(1) Motivated by fear, rather than by love.
(2) Defensive, rather than generous with gifts of
security enjoyed as the freedom to be safely
vulnerable in open and honest dialogue.
(3) Rendered destructive because of dishonesty
which is alienative.
(4) Coercive, manipulative and violent; rather
than gentle, liberating, and healing.
(5) Motivated by individualistic considerations;
rather than by considerations of both personal
and communal integrity.
(6) Dominated by either/or considerations; rather
than by integrative considerations.
(7) Dominated by authoritarian considerations;
rather than liberated by personal love.
(8) Preoccupied with drawing boundaries rather
than interested in offering invitations into
open and honest dialogue.
(9) Focused upon appearances, rather than upon true
integrity which is more than skin deep.
Beware of conceptions of sin and/or evil which lead
towards personal and communal disintegration.
(c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in
www.essayz.com Search for Integrity and Honesty
(On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)
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