Are Christians Allowed to Sin?

My student’s always have questions – I guess that’s a good thing!! More info and responses from my classes. This student (name changed) felt like Christians were hypocritical since they sin too…

Hi “Susan”,

Regarding your logic assignment…you got me thinking so I thought I’d give you my perspective

Christians sinning, yes it would be mushy IF THEY are doing it intently and choosing to ignore God. The apostle Paul talks about that in Romans 5-7. Christians are sinners saved by grace and are NOT perfect…the question is are they walking with the Lord and attempting with God’s help to curb their past behavior? God has made Christians perfect in his eyes, but we only change as we walk with him on a daily basis that is called sanctification.

Pro-war Christian??? - well, I’m one when the cause is just. I believe that part of the emotional struggle for people is that they assume that we all have an inherent RIGHT to live 80 years without being hurt or bothered. Oh sure, we will concede mentally to the idea that occasionally someone gets sick, but most Americans have trouble even reconciling that possibility. BUT, especially when it comes to war, we think, its simply not fair that some people will diewell, war is horrible in every way but there are worse things than some of our neighbors or even family members dying in a war if that war keeps us free, rather than being slaves to another, and keeps us from being under the thumb of a brutal dictatorFrankly, worse than dying in war is not having the moral or physical courage to stand up and say, we are not a perfect people or nation, but we know that losing our freedom is not right and we are willing to do something about it EVEN if it means that we will need to go to war. America was actually founded on that principle. So war should be the last thing we do, but at times it must be done. I hold that it is mushy to think that we can all just get along if we try hard enough. YES, we should try, and NO, we should not go to war unless required, but to hope that a bully will leave us/you alone just because we are nice to them or try to ignore them is very nave.

It is complicated, but think of it this way from a biblical position:

If you hold to the following presuppositions:

1. Man is flawed and needs redemption (the Bible does say this)

2. God is perfect, Holy and totally just – he knows all and has power over all people and events.

3. God is drawing all people to himself and has made provision for their salvation/redemption thru Christ.

4. All men and women are without excuse before God – he has ALREADY made himself known in the hearts of all people everywhere (see Romans 1)

5. The Bible says to not commit murder, NOT do not kill as some try to say. There is a HUGE difference. He demands justice, and is known to destroy entire people groups by his own hand and through war You see him doing this to those people who are unjust and evil in the Old Testament and will do so again in the book of Revelation — the end days. War is NOT murder when it is a just war.

This may sound cruel, but if God is drawing all people to Himself and has already made himself known in their hearts, and thus they are without excuse, (meaning, anyone who genuinely turns and looks for God he will reveal himself to them even if they are in the remotest part of the earth), then war, as ugly and painful as it is, is simply NOT the worst thing that can happen IF it is required. And what about those who die? Well, from a Christian position, it is heartbreaking and regrettable but each person who dies either knows God OR chose to not know him (because God says that we are all without excuse). Plus this side of heaven, that war in which they died (if just) has a greater purpose for the whole. I realize that if my son died, it would be excruciating, but the above is still true.

So perhaps we can argue over WHICH war to get involved in, but to say that war is not EVER a Biblical position is simply not true. And believe me when I say that I’m barely touching the highlights of the issue.

Anyway, just something to consider.

Best to you,

Prof Mark

Mark’s an adjunct professor and web entrepreneur. You can see one of his sites by going here.