Tailoring Interventions to Match Sin Motivations

A typical definition of sin is that it is disobeying God or “missing the mark”.  These simplistic descriptions are often learned during childhood. However, as the person matures his understanding of sin needs to also mature. Sin is a complex subject demonstrated by the numerous terms used in the Bible. Some terms emphasize the cause of sin, including ignorance, error, and inattention. Other terms focus on the character of sin such as missing the mark, irreligion, transgression, iniquity or lack of integrity, rebellion, treachery, perversion, and abomination. In addition, there are terms that center on the results of sin such as agitation or restlessness, evil or badness, guilt, and trouble. ^[i] Theologians have attempted to describe the central aspects of sin. A survey of nine contemporary theologians[ii] resulted in 13 different descriptions of the essence of sin. Sin was described as sensuality, disruption of shalom, sloth, selfishness, pride, unbelief, mistrust, lawlessness or transgression, covenant breaking, apostasy, rebellion, idolatry, and power. These descriptions have given us a greater depth to our understanding of sin. This understanding needs to be applied in the counseling room.

Clinging to the Truth

Grenz, Guretzki and Nordling defined evil as “any act or event that is contrary to the good and holy purposes of God” (1999). People have struggled with the problem of evil for a long time. Writers in the Old Testament questioned how a just God could allow wicked people to prosper (Jeremiah 12:1-2, Psalm 73:3-9, Habakkuk 1:3-4). Philosophers argue that it is illogical that a God who is omnipotent, omniscient and perfectly good, can co-exist with evil (Mackie, 1955). A much more personal question is asked in the counseling room, “Why did God allow evil to happen to me?” The question may be in the form of “Why did God allow a drunk driver to kill my loved one?”, “How could a good God allow my child to be sexually abused? “or “Where was God when the tornado destroyed my home?”