Stop Trying To Explain Sin
“Totally explaining one's crime would be tantamount to explaining away his or her guilt and to seeing in him or her not a free and responsible human being but a machine to be repaired. Even criminals themselves abhor this treatment and prefer to be held responsible for their deeds. From a convict serving his sentence in an Illinois penitentiary I received a letter in which he deplored that ‘the criminal never has a chance to explain himself. He is offered a variety of excuses to choose from. Society is blamed and in many instances the blame is put on the victim.’ Furthermore, when I addressed the prisoners in San Quentin, I told them that ‘you are human beings like me, and as such you were free to commit a crime, to become guilty. Now, however, you are responsible for overcoming guilt by rising above it, by growing beyond yourselves, by changing for the better.’ They felt understood.” (Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankel, 2006, p148)
You can’t explain sin. Sin is irrational. Why did I sin? Because I wanted to.
After the fact, one may feel remorse. And they may repent and (if appropriate) make restitution. But in the moment, everyone sins because they want to.
Our culture thinks education will fix everything. If someone sins, our first instinct is not to “restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:1 NKJV), but to consider their upbringing. As if their education must’ve led them to this sin.
I remember the first time one of my kids gave me a bold face lie. Like most parents who pay attention, I was witness to exactly what happened, but my kid was very young and he didn’t know that. I was shocked at his willingness and ability to lie to me.
I care a lot about truth and so does my wife. And our kid was young enough that we knew he didn’t learn lying from other kids. Where did this come from? Hadn’t we educated him well up to this point?!
He lied because he wanted to lie. No one had to teach him how. And through us giving him the Gospel, he now also loves truth.
Education isn’t the answer to a joyful life. Upbringing isn’t the answer to a joyful life. There are people who have more education and a better upbringing than me, and are more miserable. And there a people who have less and are more joyful.
Viktor Frankel shows in the quote above how explaining away someone’s crime takes away their humanity. It makes them “a machine to be repaired.” This is so true, but he doesn’t go far enough.
Because without the Gospel, no one can truly take responsibility for their sin and become free. The problem isn’t your education, it’s your desires. And only by turning from your sin and turning to Jesus Christ the King of all Kings, can you begin to change your desires.
What do you think?
Joseph