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No Sin, No Redeemer (Jan 9, 2021)
Our generation of Christianity emphasizes so much on the mercy of God. Indeed, it will be never enough to speak about the mercy of God the Father. And God has been merciful since day one. There is nothing new about his mercy. But what is different in our generation from previous generations is a strange silence about God's judgment. Is there any suppression of discussions about God's judgment and punishment? Not really. Is there any church authority that denies the end of the world? I haven't heard yet. Then, who started this silence on the judgment of God? Probably it will be unsuccessful to find such one. But you might have also noticed another silence. It is silence about sins. We still say 'sin' or 'sins' during the Mass and other prayers. We still call ourselves 'sinners' at the beginning of the Mass. However, we don't hear often anymore catechesis on sins. Instead, as Christianity becomes inclusive and lenient there are not many things left to be called sinful. Everyone has to be understood by his own standard. Then, everyone can be and should be understood and accepted. Nobody should be judged anymore. This is why there came the silence about God's judgment because no one is left for God to judge. It is that simple. Where there is no sin, there is no judgment.
Our generation makes St. John's letter we read today obsolete or irrelevant. St. John still speaks about sins. He discusses mortal sins and venial sins. As a matter of fact, our generation makes St. John a liar because he insists on something that doesn't exist. Or some theologians will charitably explain that the concept of sin was one way to explain human behaviours that the unenlightened ancient and medieval people could accept. ‘The concept of sin was an attempt to guide more people toward desirable behaviours. But no human behaviours can be intrinsically evil because they all want good things. God understands each one. He will not condemn anyone. Everyone is hopeful and all shall be saved by the infinite mercy of God.’ And so on.
I might feel better if I could convince myself that there is no sinner before God. But, then, I would not need Christ, or Christ had come to earth for nothing because he said he came to call sinners. If I deny sin, I don't have to be Christian. If there were no reality of sin, there would be no need for a redeemer, therefore, no Christ, and no Christianity.
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By Fr Swann KimOur generation of Christianity emphasizes so much on the mercy of God. Indeed, it will be never enough to speak about the mercy of God the Father. And God has been merciful since day one. There is nothing new about his mercy. But what is different in our generation from previous generations is a strange silence about God's judgment. Is there any suppression of discussions about God's judgment and punishment? Not really. Is there any church authority that denies the end of the world? I haven't heard yet. Then, who started this silence on the judgment of God? Probably it will be unsuccessful to find such one. But you might have also noticed another silence. It is silence about sins. We still say 'sin' or 'sins' during the Mass and other prayers. We still call ourselves 'sinners' at the beginning of the Mass. However, we don't hear often anymore catechesis on sins. Instead, as Christianity becomes inclusive and lenient there are not many things left to be called sinful. Everyone has to be understood by his own standard. Then, everyone can be and should be understood and accepted. Nobody should be judged anymore. This is why there came the silence about God's judgment because no one is left for God to judge. It is that simple. Where there is no sin, there is no judgment.
Our generation makes St. John's letter we read today obsolete or irrelevant. St. John still speaks about sins. He discusses mortal sins and venial sins. As a matter of fact, our generation makes St. John a liar because he insists on something that doesn't exist. Or some theologians will charitably explain that the concept of sin was one way to explain human behaviours that the unenlightened ancient and medieval people could accept. ‘The concept of sin was an attempt to guide more people toward desirable behaviours. But no human behaviours can be intrinsically evil because they all want good things. God understands each one. He will not condemn anyone. Everyone is hopeful and all shall be saved by the infinite mercy of God.’ And so on.
I might feel better if I could convince myself that there is no sinner before God. But, then, I would not need Christ, or Christ had come to earth for nothing because he said he came to call sinners. If I deny sin, I don't have to be Christian. If there were no reality of sin, there would be no need for a redeemer, therefore, no Christ, and no Christianity.