Sin the Absence of Love

What is sin? Most of us understand sin to be evil behavior. But what is evil behavior, really? How do we recognize it? Is it subjective, based on personal opinion, or is it objective, such that a computer could be programmed to evaluate it? If we can’t recognize sin, how can we lead the lives God wants us to lead? Everyone has some concept of good and evil. Are we born with this concept of evil or is it something that we learn or is it perhaps both?
Most of us believe we have some form of conscience. A conscience is an intuitive sense of right and wrong. Can we intentionally override our conscience by doing acts that we know are bad? What happens when we repeatedly ignore our conscience? Can our conscience eventually disappear even if only temporarily?
We all feel guilty at times. Guilt comes after we do something that we know is wrong. It makes us feel uncomfortable. Sometimes we do not feel guilt until others in society confront us about our wrongdoing. Oftentimes criminals who commit heinous crimes, such as rape or child molestation, continue to operate with very little guilt. Only after they are captured, put in a jail cell, and confronted with their misdeeds, do many of them attempt suicide because they can no longer deal with the guilt. Where do these feelings of guilt come from?
When I was 8 years old, my friend Timmy and I decided to rob a drug store. In the caper each of us stole a cellophane wrapped bar of licorice. We managed to make it outside with the loot and were ecstatic. We had pulled off the heist! Alas my friend was spotted committing the crime and a very large store manager confronted him outside the store. As there is no honor among thieves, Timmy immediately ratted me out as a co-conspirator. “He stole some licorice, too,” he said pointing a small bony finger at me. The elation of free licorice and a well-executed theft disappeared and major guilt descended. We had felt no guilt before being caught, only the thrill of the crime. Why did we only feel guilt after we were caught?
Sin in a broad sense is breaking God’s rules. Different religions have different concepts of God and different sets of rules. Christians and Jews believe God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, which established the basic tenets of Christianity and Judaism. All religions have rules. All major religions generally believe in doing selfless deeds while avoiding selfish ones. Whether a person is a Muslim, a Hindu, or a Buddhist, selfless charitable acts are praised and selfish harmful acts are condemned. Sin is universally associated with evil deeds. So what is different about Christianity? Are Christians more moral than members of other religions?
A certain amount of confusion arises over just what is sin and what is not. Some acts are wrong because society says they are wrong. Other acts are wrong because a particular religion says they are wrong. Is gambling a sin? Under what circumstances? Members of some faiths and religions believe that it is. Crossing a busy street is a gamble. Getting married is a gamble and the stakes are enormous. Most would agree that gambling away the rent money isn’t right. How do we distinguish between various forms of gambling?
We would all agree that while some actions may be illegal, they may not rise to the level of sin. Is driving 20 miles an hour over the speed limit a sin? If we drive fast and kill a small child, does that make driving fast a sin? Can the same action be a sin under one circumstance and not another? How do we evaluate sin? What guidelines can help Christians examine their actions to determine whether they are sinful or not?
Sin doesn’t change because God doesn’t change (Malachi 3:6). God is omniscient and omnipotent, and therefore, God’s rules always stay the same. God isn’t learning new things and thereby improving or changing the rules. God knows what is right and wrong and has always known what is right and wrong. Man has always been the same. Man has had the same bodily needs, desires, and motivations since he was first created. He has always needed food, water, air,