Sin Changing with the Times?

[dayhiker]

Rom.14 also says that those weak in faith aren't to judge those who are strong. So the usual way these verses are applied is that only the strong are to not do what they see no problem with is only one side of the issue. Veres 14:1-4 Paul goes on to stay that God will make the strong person will stand. Thus saying to the weak that their judgement isn't right.
In verses 5-9 Paul says that both the strong and the weak are to be convinced in their own mind. But we both need to know that both groups are living for the Lord.
Paul then says the weak are wrong to judge and despise their brothers and sisters. in verse 10-12. Its God who will judge everyone.
Vs. 13-18 Now the strong isn't to put a stumbing block or trap before the weak. Paul is convinced that nothing is unclean in itself. But the strong out of love shouldn't destroy our brothers and sisters by their actions. Yet Paul says the strong aren't to let their view of what is good to be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God isn't about physical things but the Holy Spirit. The one who serves God in love is pleases God and people.

The chapter ends with Paul saying the strong should love by not eating. But to keep their views to themselves before God. Paul again repeats that all things are clean but that those weak in their faith are condemned if they eat because they can't eat in faith. What ever isn't of fath is sin.


Now I personally am on the strong side of showing skin at the beach. I'd not have a problem being nude at the beach even. But I know that that would cause a lot of people to stumble so I wear a swimming suit. Now I don't have a problem with people wearing swim suits that cover all their sin. But I find it interesting how often those who wear swim suits that cover more sin judge those who wear smaller swimsuits. So it seems to be that its those who are weak in their faith that don't follow Paul's advice more often than those who are strong in their faith.

It should be noted that Paul doesn't use the terms weak and strong as terms of evaluation. As in strong faith in this sitation is better than weak faith.

that's my view,
dayhiker

 

[dayhiker]

Emmy -- Ialways thought that following Jesus was easy. Jesus himself saif that his burden was light and easy. So I agree with the later part of your comment.

Sin is sin, and always will be sin, and to follow Christ is not easy, yet we will never be alone, and we will never have to carry burdens, too heavy for our backs.

 

[BrotherDave]

Romans 14 is about how a person who has a good understanding of God’s word is strong and behaves in a way that will help a weaker person (someone who has some doubts about God’s Word). The strong person may or may not partake in something (I Cor 10:23, 28, 31) but always does that which accords with the Word of God.

A knowledgeable or strong person also knows that some things are not essential to his Christian life and he may or may not partake depending on the situation. For example to eat meat or not would depend on how it would effect a weaker person. A knowledgeable Christian must seek to edify those who are weak (Ro 14:9) and not judge them (Ro 14:4).

In the computer example. The sin is not in using a computer but what it is used for. A strong Christian would use it for good when appropriate or he may choose not to use it if other weaker Christians are present that may believe a computer is evil. The stronger person would be patient and wait for God to work in the weaker.

As for the bikini example, again, I think you have to get to the core reason for wearing one. Is it driven by pride to “show off” and draw attention to one self? Well, pride is the root of much sin, remember Lucifer?

Now as a Christian man who knows I am not to lust after woman what can I do? Well, I’d have to do my best to avoid activities where there are a lot of bikinis, for even a wondering eye or lustful thought is a sin (Matt 5:28, James 1:15). By doing this I am showing a weaker Christian that it is not ok to lust after woman. Now if I chose to participate in activities with scarcely clothed woman, say beach volleyball my presence is letting everyone know I am comfortable with the situation because I know my spiritual condition is not dependent upon what people are wearing. And in an ideal world my eyes would not wonder but the weaker guy would probably have a difficult time keeping his eye on the ball and since I am there he figures this is ok. So he shows up every week and ends up with an incorrect understanding.

But I am also not going to judge a woman for wearing a bikini, cosmetics or anything else. She has to be careful though that she is not more concerned with her outward beauty than the condition of her heart (1 Peter 3:1-6).

So, your question “Is sin changing with the Times?” I’d say that the Bible pretty clearly defines sin and that definition has not changed. Lust and pride are still wrong but today we have much more temptation and opportunities to sin than say in the 1900’s.

I think what Paul is saying here is that we always want to be an advocate for correct understanding of God’s word. Today we have many more opportunities to stand up for it.

 

[billwald]

The existing sins evolve over time, are refined by technology, but new sins have been invented since writing was invented. A person who invents a new sin will clean up. Pun intended.

 

[billwald]

Make that "NO new sins."

 

[daydreamergurl15]

I don't think sin changed, I think people have become more tolerant of sin.

Your example of a swimsuit, the swimsuit, in itself, is not a sin, but someone can lust after that person because of what they are wearing. And the shorter the swimsuits got, people were still lusting after then, it is still sin.

The problem is that some of us Christians don't understand the reason to be modest and so as the world allowed more and more things to crop up (becoming more tolerant sin), some Christians get into the mindset that those things are okay.