Q
My goodness, Paul has strong words to describe what sin does to us. Harsh, even.
Take a look at his descriptions in Romans 3:10-18.
“No one is good. No one.
No one understands. No one looks for God.
Everyone has gone off in some other direction. No one is doing anything good. No one. They’re good for nothing.
Their throat is a toxic pit. Their tongues fling lies. Their lips are pockets of snake venom.
Their mouth is an arsenal of profanity and bitterness.
Their feet rush them to victims they can kill.
Wherever they go, they ruin lives and leave people suffering in misery.
They know nothing about peace.
They have no respect for God.”
If you had to describe the power of sin that you’ve seen at work, which of these descriptions nails it for you?
A
One solid category: anything to do with opening our mouth. We cause so much trouble by what we say.
“Their throat is a toxic pit. Their tongues fling lies. Their lips are pockets of snake venom. Their mouth is an arsenal of profanity and bitterness” (Romans 3:13-14).
Sound like anyone we might know in politics?
Hopefully not anyone on the church board. Or worse, in the pulpit. Then there’s the family; God help us all to be grateful for the kind souls in our gene pool and patient with the [mentally fill in a descriptive word or phrase].
Another contender: “Wherever they go, they ruin lives and leave people suffering in misery” (Romans 3:16).
People sometimes pack up and move “to get a fresh start.” The trouble is that wherever they go, they take themselves with them. It’s not always the location that’s the problem. It’s the moving dot on the map who causes the trouble.
Adapted from Leader’s Guide & Atlas for Romans
Preview atlas of maps for maps for Romans
Download Leader’s Guide & Atlas for Romans
Well, I don’t know if those words remind me of one specific politician — but, yeah, I know what you mean.
I think the point is that most religions tend to focus on behavior. Do this, don’t do that.
But the reality of sin is that it rots us from the inside. When sin takes hold of our hearts, it changes who we are. Our behavior is merely the fruit we bear.
I’m not sure Paul could have said that any better.