The Mark of Sin
Sin in biblical terms is described as transgression of the Law, such Law stemming from God. Of this God who is the creator of all and the sustainer of all. For one can create a thing, and not be its sustainer; man creates the phone, yet it's sustainer is the battery. This God then sustains all there is. Thus, breaking the Law of this God, is the highest of all disrespect; which all men engage in for all are sinners. Thus like the Judicial court, all grievances of the law are punished. If men with their puny knowledge are endowed with the ability to reap justice, then what of God, who I must say is infinitely above the man-for it is from he that all draw their being, from he that all owe the creation of their faculties. From him comes knowledge, and thus with these faculties given to us, we too are able to grasp knowledge, of which one being man’s ability to give justice. Thus, a characteristic of God is being Just, the perfect judge at that. There are consequences to the actions of man, in the court such consequences are punished by either a fine, jail time or the death penalty. Like such, with God we are given the consequences of our sins, which too follow the format of a fine, jail time, and an eventual death. Though there are numerous consequences of sin, it is rather noted that we should focus on the separation that happens between God and man. For that is the mark of the consequence, which leads to others. Separation from the source of life. Thus, if one is disconnected from their source, they begin to disintegrate. All their beings are depleted and are depleted. With the emotional faculties of men, we are able to perceive and understand a certain thing. These emotions make us aware of our situation, causing us to be present in any act. Fear is given to man for he must weigh his choices or decisions, before doing an act. Without fear the man would act rabidly and be a danger to himself and others. Therefore, these faculties are checkpoints, they are spaces of respite, where the man is able to ponder (in solitude) about himself and his acts; the mind, body of which he alone controls. They are indications that there is something wrong. Thus God gave to man shame and guilt (or rather one can argue that these came about through sin) Thus is such because sin is a grievous act, which can lead to the total death of a person, thus God imparted in man certain characteristics, emotional markers that causes him to ponder about an act done, or act doing, in order to recognize that which is occurring, and to change his ways, given that he uses the help of The Holy Spirit.
The Inception of Shame and Guilt
The story of sin though began with Satan, is made fully ripped through the human, most notably its originators Adam and Eve. For it is through them that sin entered the world, thereby all evils arriving to Earth; death, wars, corruption, maladies and hunger, over a near infinite number of known and unknown evils, discovered and undiscovered, imaginable and unimaginable. Upon sinning, the first consequence experienced was a separation from the source, God. A separation from whom they were connected to. Thus, is such as the prophet Isaiah states, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God.” Following such separation, as they were made aware of their sins, due to the emotional faculties sending signals indicating the separation from the source, likewise how when separated from her mother a child begins to cry. So too our soul began to cry for God, for the replenisher of our soul is now far from us, hidden. Thus, realizing their disobedience led to such a reality, they felt shame and guilt. Rightfully so, for all blame is to them, yet careful of spewing such for we too, I too, is to be blamed for all evils there was, is, and will ever be. As the story goes, to quote directly from Genesis, “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Such is what was done. Upon sinning the man ran away from God, severing the bond between him and God. Of which he did not consciously do, but consciously felt. Then he chose, when God wanted to come close, wanting to be with him, to run again. This time consciously doing, yet not consciously feeling, for he heard the voice of God vividly, and God was in his midst, though he was hidden from him, and him from he. Yet we see shame and guilt at play, given birth too by sin. Yet just what are shame and guilt? What are these corrupters of the human soul, what are these that rob the man of all there is.
Description of Shame
Shame is an emotion that derives from a realization that we have done a wrong, at its core is followed (or identified) by humiliation. Such is fueled by self-flagellation, which then gives birth to a state of punishment, self-inflicted that is, for shame is directed towards the self.
Humiliation, in such there is the debasement of a thing. In this case the person. Shame reduces the human, stripping him partly of his humanity, partially nude, imputing characteristics found in beasts; lack of self-control, rage, and illogicality. Thus, since there is a strip, and an imputation of that which is lower than man, there follows a stage of humbleness. Where one (notably the Christian in this case) sees the self as nothing, in the face of God they see themselves as not even worthy of his love, for the self is feeble and worthless.
There is present self-flagellation, or extreme criticism, which is in due part characterized as punishment. Though in this case verbal punishment of the self. The human is heavily criticized, partially analyzed, and superficially understood (that is his acts). There then are acts that express a shameful view of the self, though they can be subtle, tell the story of how a person feels in totality. A deep sigh in disappointment at self, ---or the head lowered, bowed down in defeat. All these are manifestations of shame.
In shame the human sees how these two concepts are at play, with humiliation bringing forth self-flagellation. Yet there is a cycle, it's likewise with how the mind affects behavior and behavior likewise affects the mind. Thus, in humiliation one turns to self-flagellation, which in its being fuels the gravity of one’s humiliation, or the state that they are present in. In shame then, the human is filled with despair beyond imagination, for in perceiving the self, of which they superficially understand an act committed, as one worthy of not existing, as one who is the destructor of the universe, likened to Satan himself. Thus then, shame blinds the man’s reasoning abilities to a degree, that of a child. Let us take an example of such, a man commits a sin of which he then feels shame, he focus much on his sin and how he is characterized as a sinner, wretched and evil, beyond saving—yet he seeks not to understand the factors at play, he seeks not to understand why he fell into a particular sin, perhaps there is an issue unaddressed of which he must take care, for if not he risks falling into sin. Perhaps he has an unmet need which is brushed aside, carves a hole in his soul, which he fills by a particular sin. Thus then he is rendered blind, and with shame is put into a cycle of debasement, of which if not countered may lead to sin in abundance, for in debasement there is a pathway for a multiplicity of temptations, thus is such for the man is weak-minded (for the moment at least) and any emotion is able to flay him.
Definition of Guilt
Guilt is a feeling of realization, a moment of understanding the wrong one has done. A conscious awareness that one is able to be held culpable for breaking a certain law; moral or civil. Thus, it is also a rational realization of an act committed, thus when one analyzes what was done and the law broken, there is an understanding that one is deserving of being punished. Guilt, unlike shame, is outwardly focused, shame focuses on the self and humiliation, guilt is focused on anything external of the self, while still regarding that the self has committed a wrong. In guilt, unlike what I perceive its difference with shame, we are able to be driven (by it) to change our character, though it's a treacherous road. Guilt, when we heed it and are conscientious, causes us to change our ways, or rather gives us the strength to seek ways to change. The Writer of Hebrews exclaimed, "let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water." A sincere heart only comes from those who have acknowledged their wrongs and emptied themselves. Who then lay it all at the feet of Christ; guilty conscience included. So, with this guilty conscience we are to realize that we have caused harm to the creator of the universe, and such lead us to approach the throne of grace, BOLDLY, with a faith that He whom we approach, will forgive us and cleanse us, forgiven.
Changing of a Person
To change, or to undergo such, entails an alteration, one that is permanent, and is independent of circumstances. Meaning, if one claims to have changed they must in all circumstances show that to be such, in their thinking and doing(such is a mark of a changed person) —A word of discretion, the human is daily undergoing a process of change, thus for the Christian struggling with sin, the mark of a changing person is the process. The fight that one is in to escape from a certain being. Thus, for all Christians, the fight we are engaged in is daily, so long as the will is strong to fight against sin, there is an ongoing change— there must be present a different pathway, one that differs from the former. Thus, when it comes to sin, as mentioned in Adam and Eve, there is partially seen a moment of change. Such occurred when there is a run-away, a moment of covering up when the dust has settled, and the reality of what was done comes into clear view. Thus, then a change. Yet it's in the nature of change to be permanent, or rather happen in totality. Thus, this change is not total, nor partial, but circumstantial, thus not changing at all. Thus, the change based on circumstance dwells on emotion, it dwells on neurophysiological changes which are associated with many ways of feeling; pleasure and displeasure; happiness and sadness; indignation and calmness. Emotions are not rigid, they are fluid. Such means that they change daily, with each given second. Thus, a change focused on emotion, hanging on a thing that is fluid, follows such a nature of being fluid as well. Thus, the change is not sincere for it hangs on a dissolvable base. With guilt and shame, thus being markers to ensure one is aware of a thing, being emotional in nature, it is rather pointless to depend on such for change. It is rather futile to change on the basis of feeling, for there is a moment of guilt and after guilt a moment when one returns to normal. A period of shame and followed such a period of normality. Thus then, the change follows a pattern likewise; a period where one is overflowed with emotions, stating that they are to change, lamenting over what was done—however following such, after the dust has settled, after all is in clear view, after the strength of the emotions flail, the person walks right back to their filth, as a dog return to its vomit. Returns to their sins, coddling it, enticed by it, in a relationship with it—in danger of being devoured by it.
Woe is to me, for after committing a sin, I'm swallowed by guilt, followed by shame. Shut down for days on end–sometimes not reading my bible, likened to the cynic. Such is a thing I've realized to be in my DNA, derived from my mother and father, their father and mother, so-on and so-forth, in the end derived ultimately from Adam and Eve, from whom I inherited all of their traits. Shame and guilt included, the natural inclination to run away from God, to cower, to fright and flee, to cover myself from the sight of God. The feeling of guilt is beneficial, yet when dwelled on many leads to a person being filled with shame. For again, the mark of these emotions are indicators that a thing has been unpleasantly done, and in such requires attention. When led to shame, we push God away. We cover the self, hide the soul—separated from the source, we disintegrate. With shame and thereby the debasement of the self, there comes emotions and thoughts-destructive-about how one is not enough for God, an instance of being stripped of one’s humanity. Thoughts of how God loves us not, the stripping of God’s Love. That God is going to kill us, exterminate us—the stripping of his Compassion. That God has left us, abandoned us—the stripping of his Omnipresence, for he is always there. Thus, it is in these thoughts, it is in shame that Satan plants seeds of unworthiness, which if we are not aware of, causes us to backslide, leading to more sin.
Thus, with guilt the Christian realizes that they have pained God, yet only in guilt can we really come to Christ. A double-edged sword? —For it (Guilt) is necessary for finding salvation yet pains the person. Paul speaking of the law says, "And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good." With conviction we know that we've sinned greatly (that is guilt). However, the law has two parts, and is therefore incomplete in a sense. The law does partially what Christ did fully. On one hand the law makes us realize the enormity of our sin, and on the other hand points to Christ. It points to God because it causes us to seek forgiveness, such is true because of this principle: Whenever we feel negative emotions it causes discomfort, and we try to rid ourselves of them—hence why we always want to be happy and never sad. Such introduces then a novel point. Emotion alone cannot lead to change, rather there is another thing; reason. With emotion, guilt and shame, we feel to the extent the hurt caused by our sin, yet with reason we are able to deduce that such an act should not be done again, such an act should be fought against, protective measures to ensure its hindrance. With reason thus, we also look to Christ, he who loves us and is willing to aid us in our journey, he who calls himself “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,” We then see the picture of a God ready to pick us up when we fall, we look in the face of he who understands when we fall, he who looks down at us with a broken heart, he who has compassion towards us, for he knows our weakness. He looks to us like a mother looks at her sick child, on the verge of death—with a broken heart she picks him up, close in her breasts, with tears flowing from her eyes, full of love towards such creation. Thus is God with us, he who looks at us when we sin, he who is merciful towards us, he who seeks to be close to us when we fall, he who awaits us with arms open when we fall. He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. A lover for eternity. Thus, in such, with such thought in mind, when we draw to him, begging for forgiveness for we have broken his heart, laying bare before him our filthiness he is able to"cleanse us from a guilty conscience." Set free.
The law is good, but when we focus on it much we fall into shame, it leads to a desperate attempt to justify ourselves. We try to–-by our own power– rid ourselves of guilt, not knowing that "When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags." Any attempt to rid the self of guilt by the act of doing something is futile, for it leads not to change. It is only an indication that one is seeking to change in order to rid oneself of a negative emotion, which all men do. For when we feel downcast, we seek to be upcast. When unpleasant we seek to be pleasant. Such is where man falls short, such is where I fall short. I try to justify myself, to cleanse the self, I try to expiate for my sins; with bizarre self-imposed traditions; not going to church because I don't feel worthy, avoiding any conversation involving God and shaming the self to the point where instead of Christ on the cross bearing my sin, I crucify myself on that cross and try to replicate what he has already done. The Apostle Paul's "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." turns to; "I crucify myself, and yet nevertheless I live not, yet I live in me, and the life which I live in the flesh I live by faith in my deeds, and by rejecting the grace of God who loved me and gave himself freely for me." Thus, there is a rush to change the emotion, not the root that brings such emotion, not the act of the emotion. Thus, it renders it difficult for change, real change to occur; but rather a superficial change, one that lasts a time, times, and half a time.
The Two Front War
The man, though not aware, fights a double front war, one of reason and emotion. For when he uses both, is able to change. For in feeling and reasoning, he then changes. Like a man with his hands in fire, burning, such sends signals to the brain alerting him that such a thing is painful. He then with reason removes his hands to ensure he does not get burned. With such, the next time he sees a stove he will not put his hands over it, for if he does the process will occur many times, till he removes his hands completely, less his hands be consumed, then from the hands his arm, till he himself is consumed, both body and soul. Such is with sin; such reality is for us all. Such is reality for me. Thus, in such an example we see how both reason and emotion play a factor in total change. For emotion alone cannot lead to change. Yet reason alone cannot lead to change. For the man is both an emotional and reasonable being, thus both works together. An animal does not have the capacity for reasoning, thus only emotion is able to lead to change, for in feeling an emotion it speaks to him entirely. Yet to man reasoning speaks to man partially, likewise with emotion. The man then must not allow the self to be consumed by one or the other. If consumed by emotion, he risks depraving the self, he risks reducing himself to a beast. He risks morphing into a sickly dog, rambling constantly, with a double mind for his emotions change. Thus, he is unstable, for he speaks and acts circumstantially, dependent on his emotions. If he dwells on reasoning, he seeks burdening his soul, giving himself much more to do. Rendering him to a machine. He then runs to and fro, with no moments of soul-respite, he tries to expiate his sins, he seeks day and night to find alternatives, to find healing. In such he too, like he who dwells on emotion, is rendered unstable in his ways. For he is extreme in his doing, taking on the sins of the world, stripping the self-bare. Then too naturally, the man falls right back to his original state, the cycle continues. For the remedy requires both emotion and reason, two faculties given to man.
Of Perseverance
“Do not despair over each relapse which the God of patience has patience enough to pardon, and which a sinner should surely have patience enough to humble himself under.” —Soren Kierkegaard
My dear friend, in this walk we will encounter sin. For sin is in our very nature, in this life (at least) it is what distinguishes man. It is what it means to be human; to be human is to err, to err is to sin, to sin is to be human. Sin is in the very being of us, thus try to flee it you're doomed, try to not flee you're doomed; try to fight and you're doomed, try to not fight and you're doomed as well; try to pray and you're doomed, try to not pray it you're doomed as well; seek God and you're doomed, seek not God and you're doomed as well; find God and you're doomed, don't find God and you're doomed as well. Thus, no matter what is done, so long as you're in this realm with such nature, you're doomed. Doomed is all man, doomed are ye to err, doomed am I to err, doomed is the man to sin, we sin. Such is not an encouragement to fall into nihilism of sin but exposes a reality. However, fret not, for it is better to be doomed, than to be damned. My dear friends when we feel guilt it is evidence that the Spirit of God still calls us to salvation and holiness. Proof that the Holy Spirit seeks to deter us from a wongway. Proof that Christ has not abandoned us. It is impossible for anyone to be saved if they have never at one point in their walk been crushed by their sins and like David exclaim that "For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me." The life of a believer is littered with ups and downs, at times it seems like one is damned, separated from God. My friends let us persevere. As Paul says, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." Let us run this race, even if we are bruised and battered. Let us run, though we are famished and parched. Let us run, though we cry and feel broken. Let us run, though we feel alone. Let us run, even if the waves of life toss us around. Let us run, because we are more than conquerors, we are victors. Christ has already won and therefore we partake in his victory, he trampled death and sin, therefore we too have trampled death and sin. As Martin Luther said, "God works by contraries so that a man feels himself to be lost in the very moment when he is on the point of being saved." When we see how guilty we are, God begins to work, and when we confess, he acts. In the person of Christ "we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin." Christ not only is able to empathize with us, but He's able to sympathize with us; he knows the pain we feel, he knows how sin separates us from God, filling us with guilt and shame—not because he himself sinned, but because he bore our sins, and therefore as our High Priest, Judge, and Advocate, when we lay our guilt before his feet, "he is just enough to forgive us of our sins" Since we are forgiven, we then become sons and daughters of God, and because we are his children, we know God will never harm us, will never abandon us no matter the sin we fall into. His hands are always reaching out for us. We may fall seven times, but he is ready to sustain us as if we were on the verge of falling, and he loves us as if we have never fallen, as if sin has never separated us from him. That Hope is in Him who is the author and finisher of our faith; the same Christ who promises that one day we will toil no longer, we will fight no longer, and no tear will ever drop from our eyes; Him who promises to never abandon us. If we let shame conquer us, then we miss out on Jesus and his Love. With shame God's calling to, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Is rendered to nothing. Though wretched and sinful that I am, I hold onto this: "he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." The walk of a Christian, the reality is in being wretched. The Christian does not daily realize his righteousness, but daily understands to the gravity that he is wretched and lost, yet daily understands how Merciful and Loving God is.
Comments