The S Word

We all sin. To avoid using the "s" word, we may call it by other less penetrating names; politically correct names. But sin by any other name remains what it is, sin. It is not uncommon for man to blame external causes and conditions for our troubles and sicknesses, while all the time the real trouble is sin.

One of the greatest problems we face today is that of controlling the absurd, the insane in human nature which tend to defy complete control. We observe this in acts of violence, extreme aggression, mass hysteria, and mob brutality. As capital crime violence mount, we seem to think severe legal penalties will eradicate or tame the problems. So we strengthen our police force, lengthen regulations, and extend jail sentences. But there is something peculiar under the sun. Even after we have tightened up, the results are still the same.

Who can deny that our world is suffering from a severe spiritual illness? We are living in the midst of economic paralysis and social disorder. Underneath the surface, there is sin: the sin of greed, power, contempt for human beings, and the denial of brotherhood. Our spiritual sickness can only be cured by a spiritual restoration. Peace treaties have not worked for long in the past and we have no reason to believe they will be any more effective in the future. There must be an agreement with God, with the moral and spiritual realities. We have sinned. We have made alcohol more important than blood, shoes more important than people, national prestige more important than human welfare and personal agendas more important than childrens' rights.

I submit, we are dealing with something that cannot be permanently changed. We are dealing with sin. Guess what? Jails are not big enough to contain sin. There are neither enough nor powerful enough arsenals in the world to kill sin. The demons running our streets cannot be controlled by the supreme court judges or any other judge. The pathology running rampart among us cannot be controlled by police with pistols on their hip.

Sin within is manifested without; it darkens human life and saddens human history. Until we learn the unique gift of God in Jesus Christ, there will always be restlessness. Until we recognize who Jesus is, we will not be able to cure the threat. Someone once said that if we fail to retreat from sin, we will advance in it. Sin is an offense against an infinite God and will have immeasurable consequences, unless we turn to God for strength to resist.

Yet, deep within ourselves, we know that the god we have deluded ourselves into believing in is not the true God. Sometimes in the quiet of the night or in the midst of prayer, we know that we have caricatured God. Regardless of how we live, in the deepest recess of our minds, we know that what we sow, we do reap. We know that whatever kind of bread we cast upon the waters will return to us. We know that there is an unbending moral law which men and nations of men do not ultimately escape. We know that God's justice and wrath and condemnation move increasingly upon our soft and sin accommodating ways. We see our excuses, rationalizations, and alibis for what they are: sin cover-ups. In these fleeting moments, we remember our wasted hours, our cowardice and our deafness to human pain-and we know that judgment day is real and that every day is judgment day, even today.

Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. http://www.clergyservices4u.org She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: A Grief Healing Workbook, will be available soon.

---

A Crash Course in Tarot for Newbies #2: All About Tarot Decks

If you would like to learn to read tarot cards,... Read More

Masculine Energy versus Feminine Energy

I have been reading a lot lately about the concepts... Read More

Allowing Joy

"Ask and it shall be given" is a phrase we... Read More

Ego, Duality, and Paradise (Why You Cant Get to Paradise on an Ego Trip)

If you've been on a conscious spiritual journey for any... Read More

Jesus Birthday: Sacred Children Series - 2 of 3

I had visions of my daughter for about five years... Read More

Chronic Illness: The Enemy Within

There once was a man who wanted to teach himself... Read More

Shallow Victories

How many of you out there have ever wondered if... Read More

Just Learning To Cope

I have been thinking about this all night. I am... Read More

10 Interesting Facts about Archangel Uriel

1. The name Uriel means "Light of God" or "Flame... Read More

How to Hear from God

We want to hear from God so that we may... Read More

Existence of God: Facts and Figures Does God Exist?

Existence of God: facts and figures Does God exist?If you... Read More

Religion and Spirituality - What Differentiates Religion from Spirituality?

Religion is "absolute truth of life" of the physical manifested... Read More

Spiritual Friendships

As we walk along our paths in life, we will... Read More

Dear Lord

As I sit here and ponder my existence my heart... Read More

Master of Horoscope - Walter Mercado

Celebrities and common people all over the world are known... Read More

Quick Reference Guide for Tarot Card Meanings

Obviously, if you really want to learn about the meanings... Read More

Enlightenment Takes You to Selfishness

An act of selflessness is the highest expression of selfishness... Read More

Why Isnt God Helping Me?

Have you ever felt like throwing up your arms and... Read More

Letting Go of Judgment - Finding Good (God) In Others

"I resolve to speak ill of no man?and proper occasions... Read More

Becoming Enlightened

Enlightenment, which is as varied as each individual's fingerprint, is... Read More

Acknowledging the Existence of Your Soul

Talking about your "soul" and the deeper things in life... Read More

Its Ok To Be Human

One of the things I have had to deal with... Read More

Where is Your Focus?

I have a long-term goal--a life-long goal really--to develop the... Read More

Why Jesus?

There are many contradictions in life and none more easily... Read More

Understanding the Gospel of Matthew and Why it Matters - Part 6

Matthew 2:16-18Herod Kills the Children16 Then Herod, when he saw... Read More

Instructions... Guess Work or Gods Work?

I can't boast about my culinary skill, because I just... Read More

Being

Being"You have taken yourself to be something that you are... Read More

Show Of Hands

The human body is surely a miracle of God's creation.... Read More

The Ten Commandments Starring Charlton Heston

Last Saturday, the children were down at their grandparent's house... Read More

Our King Complex

When King David was old and well advanced in years?... Read More

Humility, Not Pride: Keeping Ice Off Your Bow

Tony was a professinoal salt-water fisherman. He explained how he... Read More

Universal Thought System

What we think is what we are. Our lives are... Read More

Bringing Heaven to Earth: Applying Spiritual Principles Consistently Over Time

I am often asked to explain what I mean by... Read More