If you have been a Christian for as long I have, then you have probably noticed a very obvious phenomenon taking place gradually in the church: disappearing vocabulary. There are certain words that have become conspicuously missing from the pulpit to the pew. Words that are prominent in the Bible, and that were at one time just as prominent in the church, that have become almost non-existent in the vocabulary in the church. My next few blogs will delve into this matter of the church’s disappearing vocabulary.

The first word that has become almost non-existent in today’s church is sin. Think for a moment about the last time you heard the word, either from the pulpit or from your acquaintances in your local church. Hopefully you attend a local church where the Bible is preached, and the important words of Scripture are still used. But some reading these words may be attending a local fellowship where sin is seldom, if ever, mentioned.

For the sake of clarity on the importance of this word, let’s consider a few verses that illustrate how crucial it is to keep sin fixed firmly in our vocabulary:

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:13-14

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Romans 6:1-3

The word sin is found 448 times in the King James Version of the Bible. This overwhelming number of usages of the word should be a clear indication of the importance of the word in Christian vocabulary. And yet, in many churches today, the word has been silenced.

Perhaps it is because of the desire to be more palatable to modern-day churchgoers. Perhaps we want our attendees to come to church to be encouraged and uplifted, not wanting to burden them with the demands of Scripture to repent of sinful actions, behaviors, and practices. Perhaps our desire to make people feel good about themselves gives the impression that God is pleased with a non-repentant attitude toward sin.

Read carefully the following warning concerning sinful lifestyles that are forbidden in Scripture:

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21

For any church to become silent concerning warnings such as this is to condone such actions, leading people to believe that these forbidden actions are acceptable for Christians to embrace. But hear the clear warning: those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!

Sin is serious. So serious that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, had to give His life as a sacrifice to pay the penalty for sin. If you ever question just how serious it is, just look at the cross where Jesus paid it all.

The work of our archenemy, the devil, is to deceive individuals with his treacherous ways. If he can succeed in silencing the church on this crucial issue, he will make us feel comfortable with our sinful behaviors and lifestyle choices. The ultimate result will be eternal condemnation because the Bible states clearly that these will exclude individuals from enjoying eternal life in God’s kingdom.

I encourage each of you to take seriously the implications of becoming silent when it comes to sin. Let’s warn our friends, family members, work associates, classmates, and casual acquaintances of the dire consequences of becoming silent when it comes to sin.

Until next time:

Blessings!