Puppies & Sin Nature

We have a new puppy at home. His name is Monty. He looks alot like this little one. He's a nine-week-old Beagle and is so adorable. His face says, "I'm sweet. I'm innocent and there's no way you could punish me."

Surprisingly, he already understands the word "No." He's probably heard it a thousand times in the two days we've had him. But when he hears the word he quits doing what he was doing and walks away, head down, very hurt that anyone could be so cruel to him. Then he promptly returns to what he was doing as soon as I'm not looking.

Can anyone say, "Original sin?" 

I'm kidding, of course, but the puppy does know what he's supposed to do and he chooses not to. That is James's definition of sin. (James 4:17).

How often do we as Christians knowingly participate in that kind of sin? "Oh, it's just a little thing, won't hurt anyone," we might say to justify ourselves. 

I work in the accounting office at a Christian university, believe me it happens all the time, those little lies to get around an uncomfortable situation or to get out of something unpleasant.

In the past, it was shocking to discover such a lack of integrity in someone (though it happened often enough), but it seems to be completely acceptable to this Millennial generation-those under thirty. Maybe "acceptable" is the wrong word. They understand it's not right or at least not the best thing, but somehow they're able to disconnect from the action and justify it.

"I don't say it's right, but that's not who I am as a person," one college student said to me recently. "It was just this situation because. . ."

Don't get me wrong, it's not just the younger generation, it has always been a problem--it's human nature. And, of course, there are always exceptions to a generalization, but however many fit this description in any generation is too many.

Like the puppy, we think we're too cute, or not bad enough, or that God loves us so much He wouldn't punish such a little sin.

Jesus, forgive us!

And may we never return to our vomit like a dog. (Proverbs 26:11)