For those of us that have and or are attending church it could be difficult to be totally free from the idea of sin and its consequences. When the law came it was the knowledge of sin. Before you start going to church you might feel like a sinner. After you go for a while they might just help with that! You will not only feel, but you will know you are on a deep level. Once the knowledge has been imparted it becomes difficult to navigate. It’s hard to un-know or un-see anything. There are some myths out there in the church world community that I have been dealing with for a while. I call them myths, maybe that is too harsh a word. Let’s call them ideologies or mantras by which most in the church world understand. At the very least these doctrines have been distorted over the years.
The Apostles’ Creed was the foundation of the faith. The church still adheres to the tenants of the creed. These are the unchangeable agreements of the faith.
I am totally convinced that this is We believe in one God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. We believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, of one essence with the Father, who came down from heaven, and was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again according to the scriptures; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead, and of His Kingdom shall be no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, whom together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified. Who spoke through the prophets. We believe in one holy Apostolic Church, One baptism for the remission of sins, communion of saints, the resurrection of the body, and the life to come
Amen.
These are the tenants of the faith. It is interesting that nothing was said about the human condition. Nothing about our ‘sinfulness’ and evilness, just pure intent about God and the Godhead. No talk about hell, or Satan, or demonology. I am not denying the existence of these conditions of the human soul, just trying to keep perspective. In the order of importance it is always about God first.
Myths, ideologies, and mantras concerning sin: (Good ideas that have never quite worked out)
1. Love the sinner, hate the sin
2. There are no degrees of severity concerning sin; all sin is the same
3. Your struggles reveal your sinfulness