I was a believer for almost 21 years before I happened upon Hudson Taylor’s spiritual secret, and was shocked how clearly he spelled out that the solution to sin isn’t trying not to do it. It isn’t accountability, it isn’t reading encouraging books, it isn’t seeking counseling. All such things may help, but there is only one way to stop sinning:
Taking your eyes off the sin, and putting them on the Lord.
“Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.” - Luke 12:31 This encompasses even sin. Why is this not more widely taught?
“Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret” brought along a new Christian life for me. I was shocked how much I was living a life of sin management and not living a life to glorify the Lord. I was unaware of his constant presence, of my inability to leave his presence, and of His great love for me in grace.
All of these things are things I’d heard before, spread out over several sermons, but no one ever told me to stop trying to stop sinning. I just need to fall in love with the Lord, seek Him with my whole heart, and for the first time in my life I began to experience freedom from sin.
Have you considered these things? Did anyone ever tell you this? And even if you know it in your head, have you begun to live it?
Re: The answer to sin
I first read your post entitled Are You Emergents Actually Building the Church? It seemed a bit agressive, so I read your profile to see where you were coming from. I did not find out much there. I was about to assume that you simply came here to pre-charged. Then I noticed you had some older posts, like this one.
I also found Hundson Talor’s Spiritual Secret to be an inspiring book. My very first bible teacher (Haskell Stone), a philosophy prof. from Henry Ford Community College, used to say something similar. Nothing exists in a vacuum. You cannot simply stop sinning - you have to be filled with the things of God. He used Matthew 12:43-36 as an illustration.
Contemporary theologcial discussions that emphasise the relational nature of sin, rather than describing it as a substance which can be isolated and removed from the body, would further support his view of overcoming sin.
I wrote a paper on the relational nature of Sin. You can read it if you like. Keep in mind however it is only a paper. It desrves a great deal more thought.
Theological Analysis and Evaltuation of the Doctrine of Sin.
http://mschellman.blogspot.com
Re: The answer to sin
thanks for looking into it before you blasted me or whatever… yea, I cant believe how essential to my christian walk this has been… but noone ever talked about it… i had a fundamental misunderstanding of sin…
i’m gonna go look into your paper now… and your blog… interesting..
theologer/ theologer forums/ your life is boring, read our poetry