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Theological Journal: The Nature of Sin, Brokenness, and Metaphysical Seperation

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** This is my Theological Journal. I write out thoughts on theological concepts that I am learning, researching, and trying to grapple with. It’s a brain dump, and a way for me to track my understanding over time. If you’re reading this, I hope it blesses you!

As a pastor, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the nature of sin. While I don’t pretend to have it figured out. Here’s some musings on the subject:

I would assert that Sin is not merely a list of bad deeds, though it certainly involves committing acts that are wrong and contrary to God’s will. But sin goes much deeper than that. At its core, sin is a state of alienation from God and rebellion against Him. It is a corruption of our nature that distorts our desires, priorities, and motives and renders us incapable of real goodness apart from God’s help.

In a sense, sin is like a disease or spiritual defect that affects our entire being. It darkens our understanding, enslaves our will, and dissipates our affections. It makes us love the wrong things and fail to love the truly good. Our sinful condition leaves us hopeless, helpless, and unable to restore ourselves – which is why we need God’s grace through Christ in order to be forgiven, healed and transformed. Good deeds alone cannot save us.

So while sinful acts are expressions of our deeper fallenness, sin itself – at its root – is a distortion of our very nature, a corruption of what God created us to be. That is why sin must be addressed by more than behavior modification – it requires the spiritual transformation that Christ offers through his atoning sacrifice and justifying grace. That is the only hope for our ultimate healing and true joy.

That is my view of sin, based on my Christian convictions and theological reflections.

“Sin is the refusal to find your deepest identity in your relationship and service to God. Sin is seeking to become oneself, to get an identity, apart from him. The reason people are so drawn to sin is that they think it will give them a sense of identity and self-worth. But it does the opposite. It makes you feel empty and worthless.” – Tim Keller

Where did sin come from? Did someone create it?

In my view, Sin originated with the rebellious will of the creature, not the Creator. God created everything “very good” (Genesis 1:31), but I would affirm the notion that he gave his creatures freewill – the ability to choose good or evil (to the dismay of my Calvinist friends). Sin arose when some of God’s creatures – initially the Devil (the chief fallen angel, the one who started the war we currently suffer in) and some of the angels, then humans Adam and Eve (under demonic influence) – abused their freedom by defecting from God’s will and law.

J.R.R. Tolkien’s book, The Silmarillion, tells the story of the creation of the world and the introduction of evil. The story revolves around the Ainur, powerful spirits who were asked by Eru Ilúvatar, the supreme being, to take part in a great symphony that would bring about the creation of the universe. Melkor, the mightiest and most gifted of the Ainur, rebelled against Eru’s will and introduced discord into the music, seeking to disrupt the harmony and dominate the others.

Melkor’s act of rebellion led to his fall and the corruption of the world. The story can be seen as an analogy for the nature of sin, as it begins with a desire for control and autonomy but ultimately leads to corruption and destruction.

This story serves as an analogy for the nature of sin – it begins with a desire for control and autonomy, but ultimately leads to corruption and destruction.

Just as Eru created the world through his music and instructed the Ainur to participate in the creation, Yahweh created the world and instructed humanity to be stewards of it. The concept of free will and the consequences of disobedience are also present in both narratives.

The devil’s sin was pride – a desire to usurp God’s throne and be like the Most High (Isaiah 14:12-14). His rebellion triggered a great “war in heaven” in which he and his angels were cast out of heaven down to earth (Revelation 12:7-9).

Then in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve – though created perfect without sin – were tempted by Satan to doubt God’s word and mistrust his goodness. They chose to disobey his clear command, reaching for autonomy apart from God (Genesis 3). This original sin corrupted their nature and passed on to all their descendants – so we are all born now with a bent towards sin (Psalm 51:5).

An analogy: Sin is like a broken bone, caused by the fall of humanity. Just as a doctor diagnoses and sets a broken bone, God reveals our sin and offers the healing of our souls. The brokenness was not caused by the doctor, just as sin was not caused by God, but both provide the means for restoration and healing!

So in a sense, sin did not originate with God but with His creatures – those who abused the freedom He gave them.

I understand that the nature of sin can be a confusing and challenging concept to grapple with. It is for me.

I try to remember that God is holy, just, and loving, and therefore cannot be the author of sin. However, He did give humanity will, which unfortunately led to sin and its consequences. My philosophical theory in all this is that God is telling the greatest love story of all time, and love cannot exist without choice and struggle.

In His wisdom, God allows us to have will, and though sin is ushered in through that will, He is more than able to redirect sin and evil for His greater purpose of manifesting His matchless grace, judging the proud, and glorifying His Son. It’s comforting to know that ultimately, sin’s power will be broken at Christ’s return, and God’s will shall be fully done on earth as it is in heaven (Revelation 21-22).

It seems to me sin has metaphysical properties…

I’ve often thought that sin has a kind of “metaphysical” reality beyond merely being a list of wrong actions or human propensity.

Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of reality, existence, and what is beyond the physical world that we see and experience. It tries to answer questions like “What is the meaning of life?” and “What is the nature of the universe?” in a way that is beyond the scope of science or everyday experience… which is helpful when dealing with the supernatural, because how else are we supposed to make sense of spirit beings from another realm?

For me, metaphysics is one of the only ways to make sense of sin and most spiritual realities. These concepts can be challenging to understand in this plane of existence.

Concerning sin as a metaphysical concept, There are a few ways we could understand this

  1. Sin involves a real corruption or defect in human nature. Our very constitution and orientation toward the good has been distorted by sin. This suggests sin has a sort of ontological status – it is a real metaphysical defect in beings who were meant for a higher good. 

     

  2. Sin involves spiritual/demonic forces that tempt and oppress humanity. Behind every sinful act or desire lies the spiritual influence of Satan and his minions. This could imply that sin has a metaphysical agent that corrupts and distorts human nature!

 

  1. Sin separates us from the source of being, God himself. By turning away from God, we lose our metaphysical grounding and anchor in ultimate reality. This results in a kind of spiritual and existential “nothingness” at the core of sin.

 

  1. Christ’s atoning work required a metaphysical solution to sin – his incarnation, death and resurrection. This suggests sin was a profound offense against the very fabric of being itself, not just human morality. The gospel reveals sin as a metaphysical problem that required a metaphysical remedy.

Those are some ways we could view sin as having “metaphysical properties” beyond merely being a list of wrong actions. At its core, sin distorts our relationship with being itself – with God and the good.

Notes to self: I find this concept of sin and metaphysics fascinating. It seems like there is so much more to existence than just what we can see and touch. It’s like sin is not just a human problem, but a cosmic problem that affects the very fabric of reality itself.

I can see how sin could be seen as a distortion of human nature and a separation from God. It’s like we were created for a certain purpose, but sin has disrupted that purpose and caused us to stray from our true identity.

It’s also a sobering thought that behind every sinful act or desire, there could be spiritual forces at work influencing us.

 

 

Q: What do I mean by losing our “metaphysical grounding”?

As I wrote this I realized it could be confusing. These are concepts I am still trying to grasp.

When I refer to metaphysical grounding, I mean that human beings find our deepest meaning, purpose and orientation in being grounded in God as the source of all reality and being. God is the ultimate metaphysical ground of existence – he sustains and upholds all things in being.

Back to the writing: So, when we turn away from God through sin, we lose that metaphysical anchor in ultimate reality. We become untethered, adrift, lacking any firm foundation for our lives. Sin severs our connection to the very ground of being itself – it leaves us metaphysically ungrounded.

This results in a kind of spiritual malaise, existential anxiety and inner darkness at the core of human sin. We no longer find our rest in God, who alone can satisfy the longings of the human spirit. Without being metaphysically rooted in the source of all life and truth, we wander aimlessly, never finding true peace, happiness or fulfilment.

To help think through it… here are four real-world examples of how this plays out:

  • The effects of sin can be seen in the brokenness of human relationships, such as divorce, abuse, and neglect. These broken relationships are a result of our fallen nature and our inability to love as we were meant to.
  • The impact of sin can be seen in the moral decay of society, such as corruption, greed, and injustice. These are the result of our rejection of God’s moral standards and our pursuit of self-interest.
  • The consequences of sin can be seen in physical sickness, disease, and death. These are the result of our separation from the source of life and our rejection of the divine order of the universe.
  • The reality of sin can be seen in the spiritual emptiness and longing that we all experience. This is a result of our separation from God, who alone can satisfy the deepest desires of our hearts.

Sin is NOT just a list of bad deeds but a real and profound metaphysical problem that affects every aspect of our lives. As some theologians put it, it’s unleashing “Hell on Earth.”

Thankfully, through his life, death, and resurrection, Christ restores our metaphysical connection to God. By having faith in him, we are reunited with the Father and grounded in ultimate reality. We can once again find rest in the one who sustains all things.

Christ’s redemption goes beyond just our moral condition; he addresses our spiritual and existential predicament, restoring us to a right relation with God, our neighbor, and our very selves.

This reconciliation with God through Christ remedies the lack of “metaphysical grounding” that sin had caused. It re-anchors our lives, giving us purpose, significance and an enduring hope that nothing in creation can shake. In Christ, we find our peace, joy and true selves by being reconnected to the divine source of all things. He is our metaphysical grounding made manifest in human form to restore our lost sonship.

Thank Heaven for that.

The House Aglow – Why Do We Fear The Darkness?

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I’ve seen this scene over and over again.
Imagine, if you will, a large church.

This building is filled with life, love, and light. The brightest you ever saw!

There is a warm glow that basks everyone and everything. It is comforting, wondrous and delightful.

As you glance around this building, you begin to notice… the doors are closed, and the windows are boarded up. Curious.

Suddenly the door cracks open, and the cold black night of the outside is exposed.

You hear someone scream:

Close the door! Don’t let the darkness in!


Church, Why must we confine our aspirations to merely assembling everyone inside these walls? This building is not the light. Jesus is the light, and his light illuminates within every authentic disciple.

Why do we dread the darkness?

We are apprehensive that the “world’s” darkness will contaminate and ruin us. We are hesitant to depart from the church’s confines, to confront the evil and darkness of the world. We implore, “lock the door, keep it out, and keep us in.”

The magnificent truth is this: Light is always stronger than darkness.

The beam of pure light from a small flashlight can pierce the darkness.

Darkness can never extinguish light. Light always triumphs over darkness.

Matthew 5:14-16 states,

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

The church building is not a citadel.
The Lord is our stronghold.
The church is a training camp for the battles that lie ahead.
We must not fear the darkness, for we have been sent out into it. As long as we carry the light and love of Christ in our hearts, the darkness can never vanquish us.

Fear not, go out, and shine for him!

The Dangers and Deceptions of Pride

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There is a sin which so easily entangles us, which distorts our perceptions more than any other, and which cuts us off from grace and from one another. That sin is pride.

Pride is the anti-God state of mind. It is the view of oneself as the center, the standard, the purpose of the universe — the hub of reality around which all else must turn. In pride, we look down on God and our fellow creatures — fitting all things into our own scheme. Pride blinds us to our faults and compromises, makes us deaf to criticism however justified, and pushes away love however freely offered. It makes us seek not God’s will but our own glory.

Yet beneath that loud face of pride lies a cowardice, an insecurity, a fear. For deep down we doubt our own worth, and so we seek to magnify ourselves through conquest or esteem. A proud man is always waiting for an apology, even when none is due. Pride whispers that we are special, we are entitled, we deserve more. But all these things come only from God as gifts — never as something earned or demanded.

Walk in humility. See yourself as God sees you — a beloved child, not the center of all things. And see others likewise, with kindness and compassion. Let love cast out the pride that separates us and lays waste to so much good. Turn to God, confess your sin, and walk in the light of His countenance and grace. For even the smallest act of humility before Jesus can break the chains of pride.

Such is the power of that lowly path which leads at last to joy.

On Broken Clocks & The Draining Effects of Sin

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A few thoughts on sin and how it drains us.

Sin is draining in at least two main ways. First, it eats away at our conscience. With each wrong choice, our conscience becomes a bit more hardened and troubled. We begin to doubt our own moral compass and lose peace of mind. Sin influences us to grow callous towards good and numb towards evil. It separates us from our truest self.

Second, sin consumes our energy and focus, drawing us away from the things that truly matter — love of God and love of neighbors. Instead of living for eternal purposes, we get sucked into the petty desires of the flesh and ego. Sin breeds selfishness and self-absorption, draining us of generosity, compassion and delight in things outside ourselves.

The antidote? Repentance and grace. Repentance, where we come face to face with our sin, condemn it, and turn our feet back towards goodness and truth. And grace — the free, unconditional love of God through Jesus Christ. His love renews our spirit, washes away shame and guilt, and rekindles hope within us. With grace, we find the strength to press on, to fight sin even when we fail, and to live life as it was meant to be lived — joyfully, courageously and fully alive.

 

Photo by Thomas Bormans on Unsplash

 

As a sinner saved by grace, I know both the sorrow of sin and the hope of Christ. Sin frustrates me like a broken clock that cannot tell the right time. No matter how hard I try to fix it, I keep making new mistakes. The hands spin round and round, getting further from truth and accuracy. Left to itself, a broken clock only brings frustration.

But Christ is my hope. He is like the Watchmaker who created time itself. Though I am broken, He still loves me and wants to mend me. When I bring my broken self to Him and admit I cannot fix myself, He gently takes the clock and works on it with patient love. He replaces broken gears, tightens loose screws, and winds the mainspring once more. Though I still slip occasionally, the clock tells time much better now. And I know that one day, when Christ has finished His work in me, the clock will tell perfect time, synchronized with eternity.

This gives me hope to press on. Though I am still a sinner, by God’s grace I am also a saint. I may fail a thousand times, but Christ’s love never fails. So I trust in Him, the perfect Watchmaker, who calls me friend and promises one day to make me new. This hope redeems my failures and frustrations, allowing me to keep going despite my brokenness, until the day I am finally mended and made perfect in His loving hands.

So take heart! We are broken clocks, but Christ is the great Watchmaker who wants to mend our gears and springs and set our hearts keeping time with His. Place your hope in Him, and find peace even amid your frustrations with sin.

Never lose heart, friends. Though sin drains us, God’s grace restores. Seek repentance, open your heart to grace, and rise up once more to walk in the sunlight of His love. That is the only life truly worth living.

Voice Acting: Me as the Joker

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Here’s me doing my best Mark Hamill impression. I’ve always LOVED this scene (from Return of the Joker) and monologue from the Joker, it was incredibly dark and will always have a place in my heart. I perform the Joker here in all scenes except the grunts and oofs when he’s getting beat up by Batman, haha.

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