If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves

1 John 1:1-2:2


A student came to the office last night and pleaded with me to provide an alternative to the current preacher from "Soulwinners," an itinerant preaching group visiting campus this week. Soulwinners insists that true Christians do not sin - reminds me of the early John Wesley! Allegedly, their soul winning style consists of yelling at students nearby that anyone who is still sinning has not truly repented and will burn in hell. They claim that the majority of the church is a deceiving and damned body that has lost the true Gospel.


I haven't yet heard them preach - but if Scripture is the infallible literal verbally inspired word of God, their interpretation makes sense to me*. There are plenty of Scriptures that insist that we are judged by our works and that those who know God do not sin. When asked "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus effectively says "Keep the commandments - oh, and here's some more." John and Jesus' clarion call is "Repent" - which means "Turn around", not sit around feeling bad about your sins. If this all seems horribly different from the Gospel, try reading Wesley's "The Almost Christian".


But what if the bible contains arguments within itself? Or some writers like to use metaphor and dialectically opposed statements? What if it's actually a good read instead of a philosopher's manual?


Read 1 John (and John, and 2-3 John) looking always and everywhere for metaphor, symbol, and opposite extremes. John doesn't just paint in black and white; he paints in darkness and light, night and day, hate and love, hell and heaven. At times you feel that there's no hope for any of us, that we all clearly live in the dark. And at other times, all of creation is gathered together in God's warm embrace. Avoid the temptation to choose one or the other as "the Truth" - allow God to speak to you as you read.


I'm going to go hear the "Soul winner" today and will update you later in the week!


*If Scripture is the infallible literal verbally inspired word of God, then almost any interpretation makes sense to me. I see arguments all over the place, and as any mathematician will tell you, once you have "one equals zero" you can prove whatever you want.