The Myth of Condemnation

There’s a long-standing philosophy among many in the Church today that condemnation is the best way to deal with the problem of sin among Believers. This doctrine of condemnation is a carryover from human-based religions and cultures.

These moral systems lack the power to control the monster of SIN yet assay to control it through the practice of threatening, shaming and condemnation. Nevertheless, Condemnation does not really stop the sin (as anyone who has suffered from any form of addiction will readily admit). Yet for many in the pulpit, condemnation is the go-to tool in confronting sin.

Insisting on following this template carries several problems; here’re five:

1- Condemnation is the primary tool of the Devil – NOT the Holy Spirit – after sin.
2- Preaching Condemnation to a Believer goes against the clear doctrine of scripture. (E.g. John 3:18; 5:24; Rom 8:1; etc.)
3- Shouting and shaming God’s people from the pulpit may gratify the preacher, and even makes for good optics (with ‘altar calls’ and tears), but has limited long-term positive effects in delivering people from bondage.
4- The Doctrine of Condemnation assumes the Believer loves to sin and revels in it. The truly regenerated heart of the Believer must be distinguished from the hypocritical, sin-loving churchgoer. What the Believer needs is the way out, not more judgement and condemnation.
5- Not taking the regenerated heart of the Believer into account in preaching against sin is an example of not making a distinction between “the Holy and the profane”, (Ez 22:26). A Born-Again is a blood-bought creature; and indeed the Holy Spirit once rebuked Peter for calling unclean that which “God has made clean” (Act 10:15).

Beloved, we mustn’t presume to know better about the nature of sin than the inspired authors of scripture. Inherent in the Gospel message is the power to live victoriously over sin. Not relying on this and resorting to fleshy, manmade contraptions is simplistic, ineffective and doctrinally wrong.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, (Rom 8:1)

Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies. (Rom 8:33)

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.
GREG ELKAN