DAY 145

WHOSE SIN CAUSED IT?

1 Chronicles 25, 26 & 27 and John 9:1-23

I pray you are hanging in there with 1^st Chronicles; David continues to organize and the lists go on…and on. These finish with today’s readings and tomorrow we will get to a different type of narrative.

In the New Testament there is the classic question, “whose sin caused it?” In this case the “it” is a man born blind. The literary genius of this passage is that the “blind” man is the one who has “spiritual sight” while those who could see are “spiritually blind.”

Running through this story is the question that is still operative today. Today we ask “Who is to blame.” In Jesus’ day the question was: “When you see someone who is suffering, is that God’s punishment for sin?” I want to try and be clear about how I view the answer to this question. Just two days ago we read in the Scripture how God punished King David for taking a census.

First, not all suffering is the result of some “mean God” just waiting to strike down all who disobey Him. Suffering, disease and more, all exist is this world because of our tendency as humans to disobey God. There is at a societal and cosmic level this rebellion that has all sorts of consequences. Let’s consider an example. There are people who rebel and commit crimes. Their rebellion often causes innocent people to become victims. Is that God? Certainly not. It is the free will of individuals at work.

Next, there is suffering that is not the result of others; at times we bring it on ourselves. Sharp words, short tempers, poor choices with alcohol and more all lead to consequences that we might view as “punishment.”

Lastly, there certainly is Scriptural witness for God actually bringing punishment upon nations and people. God certainly is sovereign and he is able. My view is that most of our problems are self-inflicted – the consequences of sin…generation upon generation of sin.

So here is the next question that runs through the New Testament narrative. “If sin caused the blindness, then how do we “make up for it.” This is a common question, a very common belief. “I’ve done something wrong and so I have to make it right…with God.” Now please hear me. We should be serious about making restitution to those we hurt: but that is not what God needs. God does not need restitution, he desires repentance.

There is a form of theology that says you and I have to atone for every sin we commit. It is very popular today, it is called Karma. Karma is you taking responsibility for all you mistakes, working hard to “put things right” and fulfill your responsibilities. It sounds rather American, a “pull yourself up by your bootstraps and get a move on” kind of attitude. In many ways this is a good sentiment. I don’t espouse that we should sit on our duffs and be irresponsible…but here is where I part ways…God does not require your Karma…he requires your repentance.

Think of the Tax Collector standing in the back of the Temple, beating his breast, saying “Lord be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.” (Luke 18:13) The remarkable Biblical reality is that God then pours out His grace and “pays the debt” with the Cross of Jesus Christ.

Jesus today is face to face with this attitude that somehow people have to negotiate with God for forgiveness. He will spend much of his time on earth teaching and teaching that this is not the case. His message, “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is near.” Which quite simply means, turn around and start following God. But then Jesus does more than teach, he goes and pays the price – going to the Cross to pay the price for sin. May we take a moment, recall our sins, turn from them and come to him in repentance.