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SINS IN THE CHURCH
The nature of the lesson is obviously directed toward those who are members of the church. While it is true that members of the church have been saved from their past sins, it is also true that Christians can and do sin. John writes, "If we say that 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 unrighteous. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:8-10.)
The Christian is the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27). There are two sides to the Lord's church, the divine side and the human side. The divine side is perfect in every respect. There can be no improvement. There is no need for any. But the human side will always manifest certain and various weaknesses and shortcomings. The people that compose the church are still subject to temptation, can sin, and some even fall away.
WE CAN FALL
While we are aware of the doctrine that once one is saved he is always saved and cannot be lost, we are also aware that the doctrine is as false as any other deception the devil propagates among men. The book of Galatians was written to persuade some who had fallen to see their error. Brethren are directed how to restore those who have been overtaken. (Gal. 5:4; 6:1). Jesus once said, "No man, having put his hand to the plow and looking back. is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62). Peter warned, "Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour." (1 Pet. 5:8).
The certainty of the possibility of apostasy is put beyond all debate by the words of Peter again, "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled thereby and overcome, the latter end is worse with them then the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after they have known it ,to turn from the ho! Commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." (2 Pet. 2:20-22.)
Simon the former sorcerer, Degas, Judas, Ananas and Safari. are all examples of those who did the very thing some say Christians cannot do; namely, so sin as to be lost.
SIN IS SIN
Sin in the church is the same as sin outside the church. It is the transgression of the law of God 2 John 3. Just because one is a Christian does not make his evil deeds and thoughts acceptable to God. Sin entered the world through Adam (Romans 5:12), and when we fall under the pressure of temptation, we sin James 1:13-15). The avenues of temptations are the same for saint and alien sinner; namely, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John ~ Murder is murder regardless of who murders. The same is true for lying, adultery, and any other violation of the will of God.
The sins just named are sins that are commonplace in the sinful world. While they sometimes are found in the lives of those who profess to be disciples of Christ, this is not found often because the follower of Christ has learned that such things are wrong. He has had enough respect for the will of God to not do these "real bad" things. These sins are not the ones that generally characterize those committed by members of the church. Sins found among Christians are usually those we mistakenly call "little sins." Actually there is no such thing as a "little sin." Some sins do have more immediate consequences and worse consequences on others than do some other sins. Murder will likely have more dire results than stealing a wrist watch. But sin is sin regardless of what sin it is. And it is usually the "little sins" that Christians commit.
SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS
There is the sin of self-righteousness. We are not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think Having a "better than thou" attitude is like that of the publican in Luke 18. It ought to be true that a Christian lives a better life than others. But at the same time, he is to be humble, not boasting of himself. Because he makes efforts at serving God, worships, does those things that are done by religious people, abstains from many wrongs others commit, he can fall into the snare of considering himself so much better than others that he becomes smug and conceited. He develops a tendency to judge others in order to make himself look good. But the reality of the matter is that one may be weak in one place but we may be weak in another. In Gal. 6:1, Paul urged the restoration of those who have been overtaken in a fault by those who are spiritual. But as those who are spiritual attempt to recover the sinful brother, they are commanded, "Looking to thyself lest thou also be tempted."
Self-examination is a part of being a Christian. When we look at ourselves in the mirror of God's Word we will find sins in our lives as well. That ought behoove us to stay away from the attitude of being so much "better than thou."
The world often has a deadly influence on members of the church. One area where this is obvious is in the customs of people. We have customs like other people do, often the same ones. There is nothing wrong in following customs that are not in violation of God's will. We are not to follow religious customs of others because customs and traditions of men are not authorized of God for our observance. But we are followers of dress customs and fashions that are determined by people of the sinful world. Often the fashions are immodest and lust-provoking. Yet, we see many Christian women following such things as if it must be all right.
IMMODESTY
We need not be overly explicit in describing the immodest attire that some wear. But the Christian must learn to not let the fashion designers of the world determine everything they do and wear. These designers have no respect for the teaching of God concerning modesty (1 Tim. 2:9-10). They actually make clothes lustful by example. Why should a Christian wish to undress as far as they can, be like the world round about, and ignore the modest apparel that God's Word requires? Modest clothing is available. It can be purchased just like the skimpy, short, tight, revealing things often found for sale. If modest clothes are not found in the stores, the Christian still has no right to defy God and go along with the foolish fashions of a degenerate age. It is profitable that entire lessons be devoted to this theme, but it is sufficient to mention the fact that one of the more obvious, but sometimes considered "little sins" in the lives of members of the church, is that of immodesty.
SINS OF THE TONGUE
But we want to concentrate on sins of the tongue. This is a sin that is as prevalent among men as among women. Just why some think it is so smart to curse, swear, use profanity and filthy language is bewildering. If we need to emphasize our words we can do so without sinning. Christ said, "Swear not at all," (Matt. 5:34). "By thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words shalt thou be condemned." (Matt. 12:37). The Israelites were taught, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." (Ex. 20:7). The third chapter of James is primarily devoted to the regulation of our speech and the condemnation of wrong speech. "Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren. these things not so to be."
Like some other sins, the sins of the tongue that Christians commit may not be so much the "hard core" sins like we have mentioned, but those that some consider of lesser importance like slander, gossip, tale bearing, being overly critical, unkind, speaking evil of others, and such like. By the tongue so much harm can be done. Homes can be broken, friendships destroyed, strife created and perpetuated. reputations ruined, discord aroused among brethren. Too many are anxious to know what they consider to be the faults of others, and they talk about them to all those around them that will listen. What has happened to what is called the "golden rule?" Would we want others talking about us the way we talk about them?
Let us not misunderstand. We are not rebuking the refutation of wrong. We are not saying, "Do not return evil." When there are those things that need correction we have a responsibility to assist in making correction Sins have to be pointed out. But point them out to those who sin Do your talking where it will do some good, not just where it will spread the matter far and wide. Some things, even though they are true, really do not merit our continuing to speak of them. Fires can die out if fuel is left off of them. The tongue can add fuel to the fire when the tongue ought to have been kept secure and quiet. Tongues have caused churches to split. It may take many years, even many deaths, before the harm done by tongues can be overcome. Malicious talk is not cheap. It is expensive to the one who is the subject of conversation, and it is soul damaging to the one who does it. It is a good adage that advises, "If you cannot say anything good about a person, do not say anything at all." To take that to the extreme would be to silence the reproving and rebuking of errors for which the Scriptures call. But the general sentiment is that we ought silence the malicious gossip.
AN UGLY CHURCH
Sin in the church presents an ugly picture of the church to the world. Rather than being a light in the world, a city on a hill, the salt of the earth, it becomes known for its hypocrisy. It can bring reproach on the very Lord to whom the church belongs. It can destroy the influence of the church to do the word work the Lord has commissioned it to do. No member has the right to live as he pleases. He has the right to live like God teaches. When Christians sin it makes the church the laughingstock before all. Just about any sin we find in the world can sometimes be found in the church, but with less frequency and intensify. But, as James said, "these things ought not so to be."