passive sin

I have, on several occasions, mentioned in sermons that we need to confess and repent of both active and "passive" sins. Recently, I was asked by a person in our church to clarify the term "passive" sin. I thought it would be good to post my answer here for future reference.

To clarify, "active" sin involves actions, words, or thoughts actively committed by an individual. Lying, stealing, gossiping, and being sexually immoral are examples of active sins. On the other hand, "passive" sin involves actions, words, or thoughts committed against an individual. Being slandered, hurt (physically, emotionally, etc), or cursed are examples of being sinned against.

The term "passive sin," then, encompasses the offended who has not committed a sin, but must still deal with the wounds of repercussion. Thus, the offended is a passive victim of sin. Yet passive sin can lead to the offended being in sin if the sin done against them leaves them with a bitter heart, dwelling in anger, and/or living in resentment. Passive sin is, therefore, linked with unforgiveness because those who have been hurt by someone else have a pain or hurt left in their heart and soul. That pain or hurt leaves one feeling down about himself or herself and angry with the offender. Anger lingers and turns into bitterness and resentment, which can be projected on others who have not sinned against them but their words or actions have triggered a memory of being hurt. Consider, for example, a young boy who has an absent father and grows up without having any close guy friends because he doesn't trust men.

At this point, it may seem unfair that a person who has been sinned against can end up in sin as a result of the anger, bitterness, and/or resentment left in his or her heart. However, we cannot view sin as a system of "fair and unfair." Sin does not have rules, does not play favorites, and does not care who, how, or when it affects someone. Here are three points that go along with this understanding.

1. We were all born in sin. It was not our fault that Adam sinned by disobeying God in the Garden of Eden. However, we are still under the curse of sin. It may be understood that we are victims of passive sin as a result of Adam opening the door of sin in our world.

2. "You shall not bow down to (false gods) or worship (idols); for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me" - Exodus 20:5

The children of the 3rd and 4th generation did not do anything wrong, they were not even born yet, but as a result of passive sin, they are under the curse of sin and the consequences thereof.

3. "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." - Ephesians 4:26-27

Being angry is not necessarily sinful, i.e., a righteous anger. However, being angry opens the door for the devil to have a foothold. So when that anger lingers, it turns into bitterness/resentment, and causes us to dwell in a state of mind/emotion that is not of the Lord. Again, this is not because the person affected by passive sin has done anything wrong or to "deserve" this, but because victims of passive sin have been robbed of joy.

So how does one get released from the effect of passive sin? In some instances, a person or people must confess and repent of the sin caused by people in their family line (see point 2 above). In other instances, one must choose to forgive, even if the offender has not asked, does not care, or is unwilling to admit sin, because the effect of the sin has left a mark. As Christians, we cannot stay in a state of feeling hurt, sorry for ourselves, or angry. We must confess, repent and receive grace in areas of our lives that have been affected by sin so we can feel peace, love, joy and comfort.

Many people need to be released from wounds left by the hurt and pain someone else has caused. Many of us need to be released from bitterness and resentment - an unforgiving heart - toward those who have sinned against us. This, of course, is a process that takes time, some more time than others. We can monitor our progress to see how we are doing on the road to healing. Going back to the example of a boy who needs to forgive his absent father, perhaps he is able to begin having close guy friends and even hug his close guy friends - this shows some healing has taken place.

Healing and forgiveness are complete when we are able to release the person who has sinned against us from the right of being angry with them and the right of getting revenge. Once we have fully released them, we no longer feel the need to be angry but we have let the wound go and are able to look at the person without feeling resentment. It does NOT mean we have to allow that person into our hearts, or be in a place of trust/vulnerability with them. What it does mean is we do not allow what they have done/said to have a negative affect on our hearts and souls any longer.

A good place to start is reading Psalm 59 and praying through the psalm - asking God to forgive you of both active and passive sins. Then, read Psalm 103 and feel comforted by God's willingness to forgive and restore us.

living as the church

What is the church? Is it the building in which worshipers congregate? Is it the surrounding walls of the sanctuary? Is it the programs and marketing techniques copied, envied and even denounced by other churches? To understand the church today, we need to understand the first church. For starters, the first church lived organically NOT programmatically. Brothers and sisters in Christ loved God, loved one another and lived in community.

Before the Church is called to do or say anything, it is called and sent to be the unique community of those who live as participants of the Kingdom of God. It must be before it can do. In being the obedient community of God, the Church can represent a true and transforming relationship with God. In addition, the Church does not only exist as a community of believers reconciled to God, but as a reconciling community for those who are yet to know God. Thus, being missional (serving) and evangelistic (proclaiming the Word of God with words and actions) is at the core of the essence of the Church.

Origins of the Church

The Church began as a tabernacle and then a temple. In short, and without due respect to all the tabernacle and temple entailed, the tabernacle was God's dwelling place among God's people. The temple was God's palace as the King of Israel. Later, Jews gathered in local synagogues, places where believers "gathered" together to worship God. Today, we use the word "church" to describe our place of worship, which is a compound word in Greek meaning, "The called out ones." Thus, the Church is God's people called out by God, to God, and for God's purposes.

What is the Purpose of Church?

First, the church is a place of edification for God's people (cf. Ephesians 4:10-13). Edification refers to the growth and progress of believers and is not to be interpreted individualistically. Believers are to be equipped for works of service for building up the Body of Christ and loving a broken world. Second, the church is a place of meeting with Christ. As faithful followers of God, Christians met together and sang psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in their hearts. The repeated the shema - an understanding of God as one and their identity as God's people - and prayed for one another. Through this, they witnessed Christ among them as they saw powerful works of Christ in and through one another. Finally, the church is a place to worship God. Worship is understood as a particular expression (praise, prayer, sermon, Eucharist, etc) of the total life-response to God, through Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Another way to understand church is a place in which the Kingdom of God is manifest. The kingdom, or "reign" of God exemplifies the power over darkness and evil through power of God's light and grace. Therefore, the church must live as the salt of the earth, the light of the world, and as both receivers and givers of God's grace.