Churches Of Christ/sin/willfull sin/ lawlessness

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Expert: - 4/12/2011


Question
Hi thanks for your time. I love God and I pray everyday, and I go out and spread his word to people in other towns and I study my bible everyday. But once a week or so I willfully sin or give in to temptation. I pray and confess these sins and I will do good for 4 or 5 days and feel so holy then I will mess us and give in to sin. choose sin over god. sometimes I don't give in but sometimes I do. Is this willfull sin and am I practicing lawlessness?

Answer
Hi, Josh.

Yes, it is willful sin; no you are not practicing lawlessness. As John tells us in his epistles, we all sin. The question is not whether you sin, but what sort of life are you shooting for? Perfection is not required; a heart that turns to God is.

Your experience is parallel to folks who are trying to quit a habit, an addiction, or simply change a particular behavior. We do well for a time, and then fall on our faces. Seems to be the common human lot.

Don't let your failures create an obstacle for you; do not try to "stop sinning." Rather, try to "live the life worthy of your calling," and put your energies into that. Instead of trying to avoid sin, live into a fuller life.

You will still not be perfect, but that's OK

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Hoyt Roberson

Expertise

I can answer just about any doctrinal, relational, or Scriptural question from a "traditional" church of Christ perspective, and from perspectives of somewhat more progressive congregations. If you want an answer from a particular perspective, let me know that up front, and I'll respond in that vein. If you want to peg me on the liberal-conservative spectrum, I would suggest a bit left of center. Depending on the question though, I might be far left, or perhaps rather toward the right.

Experience

I am currently a shepherd of a congregation (which means, for those of you who aren't Church of Christ folk, I'm one of a handful of people responsible for the spiritual direction and maturity of the congregation, and who hire and fire the ministers). I have served in many capacities including adult class teacher (also current), deacon, administrator, and lay leader at two military bases. I am a life-long member of churches of Christ, mostly mainline congregations, but am quite familiar with more conservative and more liberal congregations and views as well. I read and subscribe to various books and periodicals for churches of Christ, and have discussed a variety of topics with representatives of our various groups both in person, and via mail.

Organizations
Christian Association for Psychological Studies, American Association of Christian Counselors, and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Publications
www.robersonblog.blogspot.com

Education/Credentials
I hold a Masters of Ministry degree from Pepperdine University, as well as a Masters of Counseling degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Phoenix.

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