Almost a month ago [“http://amidthenoiseandhaste2.blogspot.com/2010/01/dictionarys-definition-of-sin.html”] I posted the dictionary's definition of "sin," partly in jest (what with all the "religious-types" who say this is a sin and that's a sin, etc), but on a more personal level I was entering into a new church for the very first time, and I had no idea what their doctrinal emphasis would be.
While I managed to keep an open mind about the whole experience (and so far, it's paying off quite well, I think), there was always going to be that little nagging question: are they going to preach about anything I don't like? Are they going to talk about sin endlessly? etc, etc...
I finally finished Keller's book a few days ago. I haven't gone back to read it a second time, and there's a chance it might be a while before I do so. But I decided I needed to find something (else) about the book that leapt to mind so I can blog about it, and perhaps lead others to be interested and read it for themselves.
When I started reading it, there were a few spots that I was uncomfortable with (I will blog about it down the road), and when I came upon the doorstep of the tenth chapter, I feared I was going to hate going through it. Alas, no, I was actually quite relieved. Keller dealt with "the problem of sin" directly but also with loving care. He actually quotes Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard's definition of sin as "not wanting to be oneself before God." (Keller, 168) In other words, sin is desiring anything or putting one's heart on anything but God. He goes on to embellish that point later in the chapter, saying that "every person must find some way to justify their existence... everyone is building their identity on something" (170) and "building our lives on something besides God not only hurts us if we don't get the desires of our hearts, but also if we do." (173)
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Tangent: I have a miniscule idea as to who my regular blog readers are. Just about all of you are my family, my friends, people I care about, and people that I enjoy... and of course the occasional hapless stranger that happens to reach this page via the "next blog" link on Blogger or via Google. I've said this several times, but with posts especially like these, I hope to spread at least a hint of enlightenment or at least generate thoughts among as many folk as I can reach.
The other part about my faith/religious/spiritual journey that I've been on -- I guess -- my whole life, is the idea that to live up to my faith I should at some point attempt to steer people towards God (the dreaded "saved" term comes to mind). I can hear my religious friends whooping it up and shouting "Ay-men!!" ; but I imagine my non-religious friends are -- understandably -- more reticent to just join in. And quite frankly, I'm a bit reticent to talk to non-religious peops about religion because I have no idea how to do this. As a person who strives to be open-minded about ideas in general, I'm more likely to say, "y'know, I see what you're saying, and it makes sense" instead of "I see what you're saying, but here's this hole in your argument, and here's why..."
After reading this book, I think I finally have at least a beginning answer to talking to non-religious people about God. It sounds kinda dumb, but I would personally recommend reading this book. The Reason for God tackles a lot of the concerns and questions that I just don't know how to answer, even though I probably do know how to answer.
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Getting back to the definition of sin, just about everything we do, regardless of what we believe, is sin. But what I got from this particular chapter is that sin isn't necessarily the dreaded you're-screwed-and-there's-nothing-you-can-do-about-it sort. Heck, spending hours upon hours on ESPN.com [“http://ESPN.com/“] following the NBA trade deadline is a sin. But it's a sin only because it was energy directed away from God. And quite frankly, I imagine it's one of those things that gets lumped up with other small "transgressions" (or "trespasses," according to the Lord's Prayer) that I can confess, apologize, and atone for later. The "big" sins are ones that directly involve causing hurt in another's life; it's important to make that distinction, and once it's been made, to judge -- or not judge -- according to said sin.
That all being said, I'm far from an authority on this -- or any other -- topic: that's why, if I ever feel called to "spread the Word," I'll probably just point to Keller's book. It'll explain things more directly and open-heartedly than I could ever hope to put in words.
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