The Gospel Way CatechismSample

QUESTION 12: What Form Does Our Sin Take Against God?

ANSWER

We love God’s gifts more than we love the Giver of all good things. We push God from the center and place our trust in ourselves and other created things—dishonoring his name, defying his Word, and disbelieving his love.

For many people today, any notion of sin is merely a social construct created by religious institutions to maintain power and control over their followers. Sin isn’t real; it’s a religious invention with little relevance to modern society. The old-fashioned concept of sin implies there is a divine authority we must obey. It is judgmental and divisive, promoting guilt and shame rather than compassion and understanding. If sin does exist, it is a personal issue; it has nothing to do with a higher moral standard. It’s just the failure to live up to our ideals and values.

In contrast to this understanding of sin, the Bible lays out an unmistakable vertical dimension that emphasizes the form our sin takes against God. Even churchgoers might think of sin as simply making mistakes or might think of themselves as merely the victims of suffering and evil, never the perpetrators. But the sin that wreaks havoc in our world is not a minor infraction; it’s high treason. It is idolatry—the act of loving God’s gifts more than God the Giver. It is exchanging the glory of the immortal God for created things, for something else we believe might satisfy the longing in our souls (James 4:4).

If it’s true that God is the center and point of everything, sin is the attempt to push him from the center—to trust ourselves or look for happiness in something created rather than the Creator. That’s why, in the Bible, sin is never just a private matter but a public offense. We dishonor the name of God. We defy his Word. Instead of trusting in him, we trust ourselves. We disbelieve his love, which strikes at the heart of our identity as beloved persons made in God’s image (1 John 1:5-10).

The Bible describes sin as something far greater than a temporary lapse; it’s a chronic disease. Our sin against God is not a one-time mistake or occasional slip but a pervasive and chronic condition that affects every aspect of our being. It manifests itself in our thoughts, desires, and actions, and leads to brokenness and dysfunction in our relationships with God, others, and ourselves.

When we consider the form our sin takes against God, we see a cosmic tragedy unfolding that has marred the beauty and harmony of God’s creation. It has brought suffering, pain, and death into the world and has separated us from God and one another. As the apostle Paul writes, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 CSB). Make no mistake. Sin is ugly. And until we get a grip on just how ugly sin is, we will never fully comprehend the gospel story. We will never appreciate all we have been saved to until we first understand what we have been saved from.

Reflection Questions

Consider the three ways our sin is directed toward God (dishonoring his name, defying his Word, and disbelieving his love). Which of these three most resonates with you? What are some of the most common sinful attitudes and actions directed toward God in our time?

What are some signs that you are attempting to push God from the center and trust in yourself? Consider specific instances where you have prioritized your desires over God’s will. How have your choices affected your relationships with others and your overall spiritual wellbeing?