Peace,
Jamie

Thanks for taking the time to really dig into the material and respond. I appreciate what you have to say. I want to push back a little on this for discussions sake and see what you think.

First, I want you to reread my sentence about sin. As you mentioned, it says, “Rather than primarily about acts of moral failure, He shows us that sin is about ‘missing the mark’”. Notice the word “primarily” in the sentence. This was very intentionally placed there so suggest two things: First, that sin is most definitely about moral failings; and secondly, that this is not the primary or first emphasis Jesus is teaching about the nature of sin. My point is not that there are not moral failures, but that sin is most wrong because of what it fails to be, not what it is. Consider the analogy of light and darkness so often used in Scripture, with sin being like darkness and righteousness being light. Darkness, while it is very real and can blind us, has no substance, it isn’t anything in and of itself. It is, in fact, the absence of light. Therefore, you cannot chase away the darkness apart from bringing the light. In the same way, you cannot understand sin without understanding what light is not present. If you are greedy, it is not enough to stop being greedy, but you must embrace generosity. Repentance is about turning, changing, moving in a different direction. Yes, that includes confession of failings and the need for forgiveness, but in this passage, Jesus is saying that is not enough. He is saying instead that we must then pursue the light. That is true righteousness and holiness- not only the absence of darkness (sin), but the presence of light (active, incarnational righteousness). After all, God isn’t holy because He doesn’t sin, right? It is far more than that.

I agree that there is a “dangerous trend now that replaces the word ’sin’ with the word ‘mistakes’”. However, I would suggest that the understanding of sin present here is not as example of that. In fact, I would say it make sin even more serious. Let me give you an example. We know that racism is a sin, because it is born of the belief that some races are inherently better than others, which is hateful and denies that all people are made in God’s image. You and I are not racists. According the typical view of what sin is, we should not be racist (as it is a clear and serious moral failing). However, with this understanding of sin that Jesus present, it is not enough for us to be “not racist”. That would be like try to simply chase away the darkness without embracing the light. The light in this case- the “other cheek”, the “tunic”, the “extra mile”- requires that we not only reject racism, but are also committed to actively pursuing and celebrating diversity. That is a much higher standard that makes sin far more serious. Again, God is not holy and righteous because He doesn’t sin, but because of His nature, which is actively loving, gracious, peaceful, just, merciful, etc.

It is interesting that you quoted Bonhoeffer from his book “The Cost of Discipleship”, as it is in this book that I first learned about how clearly Jesus laid out this understanding of sin. Like Bonhoeffer, I am not saying that we shouldn’t be a moral people who hate sin, but rather I am saying that THAT isn’t enough. Bonhoeffer is very clear on what Jesus means. It is not first about avoiding immorality (though that is an important secondary part of it), but rather first about living like Christ, who pursued God and others with active love and grace.

No need to apologize for the length of the comment or if you might have misinterpreted me. You & I both have been raised in good Christian contexts, but contexts that often placed more of an emphasis on the fear of evil than a love of good. Belief became about accept certain ideas to be true (which is a part of it), instead of about heart, mind & body conviction that leads us to transformed lives of love and service to God and others. I hope this helps clear things up.

Peace,
Jamie

Thanks! It happens in its time. Keep pursuing.

Peace,
Jamie