What is sin?

Everyone is worthy in genuine religion

Saibal Bhattacharya, a Lawrence resident, is a student of Hindu philosophy:

Hinduism asserts that both good and evil are expressions of a single power. A cloud temporarily covers the sky, but its passage reveals the true translucent blue. Misdeeds and mistakes similarly cover our true “nature” temporarily, but in time they will blow away to reveal our inner-self. Examples of such transformations abound in history and mythology: Ratnakar, the king of robbers, later became Valmiki, the great poet-sage, who wrote the timeless epic Ramayana.

Humans are like the river that ultimately reaches the sea no matter how serpentine its route. Some of us make a conscious effort to travel along a straight line to our destination of self-realization by practicing spiritual disciplines, while others embark on a tortuous path strewn with sufferings.

Swami Vivekananda said that as individuals, we are always aware of an inner emptiness, a “want” that propels us to engage in different activities — the thief steals, the vaunted struggles for material accruements, while the saint practices spiritual austerities. Those who steal and get enmeshed in materialism stray from the direct path to liberation, while spiritual aspirants ascend toward self-realization.

The Upanisad says, “Hear, all ye children of immortal bliss …” We are all “children of immortal bliss.” At the world parliament of religions in 1893, Swami Vivekananda boldly proclaimed, “Sinners! It is a sin to call a man so.” What we call “sins” are obstacles which prevent manifestation of our innate divinity. Swami Lokeswarananda said that “man does not sin, he makes mistakes,” and that “it is man’s nature to make mistakes.”

Unlike a cow, a man can steal and tell a lie. However, he can also work to manifest his inherent divinity. Genuine religion does not slight anyone or regard him as unworthy. Rather, it awakens hope in mankind by urging us to go forward until we reach perfection.

Send e-mail to Saibal Bhattacharya at bhattacharya@hotmail.com.

God sets standard for what is right

The Rev. Bill Hurlbutt, senior pastor, Christ Community Church, 1100 Kasold Drive:

The word that is used most frequently in relation to defining sin is the Greek word “hamartia,” which means “missing the mark.” It is the most comprehensive term for explaining sin.

The apostle Paul used the verb form of this word (“hamartano”) when he wrote, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). God has a high and holy standard of what is right and acceptable.

The conclusive statement of the Almighty is that all men have fallen far short of God’s required standard. It is a popular and common practice of men and women today to create their own standards; however, God has established his standard of perfection for entry into heaven, and in his word he states all men have “missed the mark” as an archer’s arrow would drop to the ground because it fell short of its target.

Some measure themselves on the basis of their educational attainment, some by financial success and others by sincerity of religious performance. But God, because of his nature and character, refuses to accept man on any of these grounds — for humanity has sinned and come short, we have “missed the mark.” It would appear there is no hope for us to meet God’s criteria for acceptance, and that would be true if it were not for Jesus Christ.

The Bible leaves no doubt that the penalty for sin is eternal spiritual death (Romans 3:23). The Passion of Christ, which we are familiar with because of Mel Gibson’s film “The Passion of the Christ,” was the payment for sin. Jesus Christ lived without sin and became a willing sacrifice, receiving the wrath of God against the sin of the world. His death as a substitute for all who have sinned was in reality a gift, and all who are willing to humble themselves — believing that Christ died for them — and receive him as their personal savior, will be accepted by God not on the basis of anything they could do, but on Christ’s payment for their sin.

Send e-mail to the Rev. Bill Hurlbutt at emailpb@hotmail.com.