14 November 2005

We continue with work by Stephen G. Ray, Jr. in "Do No Harm."

...theologians have long been aware that getting it (sin-talk) wrong can be a serious matter. Why? Because of two claims deeply embedded in the Christian worldview - sin destroys, and God punishes sin. Sin-talk is therefore serious business because once the source of social sin is named, the impulse to stigmatize it is strong and the desire to destroy it even stronger. In this regard, how we define sin in concrete terms strongly determines the character of our social actions against it.

If we can push someone or some group of people to the edge of our community by pointing at them and using sin-talk to describe "them," then it seems that we have put up another divide between us. This action does little or nothing to heal the separation created by what we have labeled sin. We would do well to remember that sin is not simply what a group of people want to call a "bad" thing to do. Sin is that which separates us from God and one another. Unfortunately, we use sin-talk as Ray says, "to stigmatize" it...but then we also seek to destroy it. We stop short. We do not allow ourselves a way to understand the life situation of those who have been labeled with the talk of sin. In that way we don't give ourselves the opportunity to see and hear if what we have called sin is really what we have called it...or is there something more that needs to be addressed...something that may be bigger and more ubiquitous than what we first attempted to call sin.

Connection: When it comes to sin-talk, it is good to simply ask: What is the sin that is being pointed out here? How is it sin? Is sin-talk in this case being used to create greater division between people? Even, what would be good for me to know about those we are trying to stigmatize? Who, if anyone, benefits from talking sin about someone else?

Lord, as you attempt to bring your people together as one, we know that we are a people at war with one another. We are also the ones who fight against your power that unites by being a power that divides and separates even as we use your name among us. Forgive us and let your Holy Spirit guide us into the ways of your blessed Reign. Amen.