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A Different Slant On Sin
Would you believe that 87% of 21st Century Americans still believe in the concept of sin? According to a survey conducted in mid-March by Ellison Research and the Religious News Service, it’s true. So what counts as sin to contemporary Americans? Here’s the list, as published in the April 22 issue of Christian Century magazine. 81% of those polled agree that ADULTERY is sin. 74% of those polled agree that RACISM is sin. 65% of those polled agree that the use of HARD DRUGS is sin. 56% of those polled agree that ABORTION is sin. 52% of those polled agree that HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVITY is sin. 52% of those polled agree that UNDER-REPORTING INCOME is sin. 30% of those polled agree that GAMBLING is sin. 29% of those polled agree that telling a “LITTLE WHITE LIE” is sin. When I first read this, I quickly counted the list, discovered that there were only eight items, and wondered which of the 10 Commandments were not represented. Then I took a second look, and saw that the first three expressing our intended relationship with God were missing, and thought I had it figured out. But look again. Yes, murder, adultery, theft, covetousness and false witness are represented in this list. Honoring the name of God and protecting time for worship are not. But neither is honor for parents or others in authority. Any thoughts about why this is so? I pondered that and decided that those who conducted the survey were really more interested in people’s outrage over the weighty issues within contemporary society rather than with authority. A second look casts doubt on that, too. Why didn’t the researchers ask about the troubling issues of hunger, poverty, pre-emptive war or affordable health care? Would no one consider such things to be sinful? In the end, I am not able to guess why some things are included and others are not. But the list served well in challenging me to think about the things that would and would not be on my list of sins. I want to challenge you to think about your list, too. |
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