Defile a Person
(Day 22 of A Simple Lent)
Saturday
I’m becoming increasingly conscious of the presence and absence of a single letter in worship. Such a small thing, almost imperceptible. It shows up and completely changes our intentions. Most of us don’t even see it.
A radical transformation of intention and expectation comes from a single letter: an S.
In this case, a second “s” tacked on the end of a word changes everything. One minute we think we’re talking about one thing then {BAM!} we’re talking multiples. Plural. And that can entirely change the nature of what we’re talking about.
The word I’m thinking about is “sin”.
And when we tack on an “s” making “sins,” then everything changes.
What Is Sin?
The classic definition of sin is separation from GOD. It is the space between and state of being separate from GOD. With “sins” we aren’t speaking of the separation itself, but of actions. Making sin plural makes it more specific and referring to specific actions or behaviors. The things we do which separate us from GOD. Not the separation itself.
So rather than focus on the separation, we focus on the action which leads us to separation. It means we can monitor behavior, judge, and condemn one another for achieving a state of sin, for doing the things which lead to separation.
We can do this and not deal with that separation. We can avoid dealing with the sin all together. And somehow feel good about it.
Dealing with Sin
Good thing Lent is all about dealing with sin, eh?
The solution Jesus teaches fits into a long tradition. It isn’t anything new. But it is instructive.
We’re told, of course, that we are to repent and return to the Lord. Repent–turn away. So we turn away from the path that takes us away from GOD and we re-turn to GOD.
I really like the physicality of the word “repent” because it helps me see the teaching.
The word “repent” isn’t universally loved, though. It has been abusive. It has also been used, not to deal with sin, but as a way of talking about sins and prove our superiority. Not to help return one to Jesus, but to make them more like us.
Defiling
This difference we can observe over the nature of sin (or between “sin” and “sins”) can be found throughout the church. Many Protestant Christians handle this difference very differently from each other. It was a factor in the Great Reformation and is present in the various ways different Christians evangelize.
It also appears to be present in Jesus’s ministry.
The idea that sin is created by what we eat is far from the portrait of GOD that Jesus paints. Here, Jesus speaks directly about defilement, about purity and impurity, cleanliness and corruption, sin and death. And he says that defilement is not made by what we take in. It doesn’t happen in our eating.
We aren’t ruined people! We aren’t broken! We aren’t beyond help!
Forget to wash your hands? GOD doesn’t think you’re a dog.
Forget to say grace? GOD doesn’t think you’ve forgotten everything.
Forget and eat red meat on Friday? GOD doesn’t think you’ve ruined Lent.
We aren’t horrible creatures because of what we eat, the rules we may have broken are insignificant against the other rules we could break. Rules that prevent us from hurting others.
We aren’t broken, but we can break people. We can abuse, destroy, and murder the very souls of other people. We can be the source of far more serious and destructive defilement.
And that is sin.
When we are separated from GOD, we have a familiar invitation. Turn around. Not for the bad things we have done, but the bad path we are on. The one going away from GOD. Turn around and come home.
Daily Office Readings
Or visit the alternative Daily Office I often use.
Homework
This week’s homework is to surround yourself with what brings joy to your life.
Download the worksheet: A Simple Lent-Handout 3!
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