An (In)appropriate, Old School Reaction to Sin
In the heat of crafting the old school reaction to sin and another old school reaction posts I thought it might be helpful to answer the question “What’s an inappropriate reaction to sin?”
Here’s one way to answer that question: An inappropriate reaction is the opposite of David’s biblical lament.
And because we’ve got accounts of ancient and modern ungodly remonstrances, labeling these reactions “new school” wouldn’t be fair.
One more thing before you scan this list: Even though I simply reversed these reactions, I built some of them based on my own personal experience. Let me know what you think.
1. Complains about unjust, meaningless suffering.
2. Thinks God is picking on him. And that he has no right to pick on him.
3. Resists the idea that he’s done anything even remotely deserving of punishment.
4. Lashes out in anger due to his inability to deal with the weight of his suffocating guilt.
5. Shocked people would even consider he sinned.
6. Grieved he’s got to endure his brutal, self-made consequences.
7. Leverages periods of bodily affliction to blame God.
8. Groans that he has to suffer devastation through his self-made circumstances.
9. Trusts in no one–except himself–to deliver him.
10. Pants as if barely alive.
11. Bitter over his abandonment by family and friends.
12. Paranoid his enemies will destroy him while he’s sick.
13. Motionless because of the shock over his circumstances.
14. Rails against those who suggest he’s done something wrong.
15. Confident God is a monster.
16. Complains about his persecutors who mock him while he’s ill.
17. Appalled God would leave him in such a state.
18. Declares he’s deeply troubled that God would allow innocent people to suffer.
19. Ridicules those who ridicules him.
20. Denounces God for his unfair wrath spread out on the world he created.
21. Insists God forgot him and is far away.
22. Curses God.
Granted, some reactions remained the same to David’s, like no. 10. Whether humble or defiant, crushing events can nearly kill you.
And some reactions, like no. 21, are understandable. We’ve all had times in our lives where we felt God forgot or left us.
It’s our response that counts. So, what did I miss? Anything you’d like to add to this list? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Related posts:
4 Comments to An (In)appropriate, Old School Reaction to Sin
That’s a well thought out list.
Another reaction that comes to mind is blame shifting, dating back to Eden.
Guilty. I don’t say that sarcastically. Thanks.
Demian FarnworthAugust 12, 2009
Daniel, blame shifting, indeed. [I thought you were at the beach? No?]
Steve, funny thing is, the idea for this post started with me thinking I would not fit into this category, but as I wrote it I saw the obvious–these were things I’ve done in the past. And still do today.
Guilty, too.
I confess, I was originally thinking this was an article that would portray a non-believer. Was I wrong. *humbly hanging head*
Yes, at the beach. But still able to check email sometimes and write posts at night.
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August 12, 2009