"Not the Way It's Supposed to Be--A Breviary of Sin" by Cornelius Plantinga, Jr.

October 14, 1997 (Submitted one week early due to being out of town on October 21)

Many Christians think of sin as "breaking" one of the Ten Commandments or forsaking some aspect of the Law of God. Sure enough, John says, "Sin is the transgression of the law" in 1 John 3:4. But if we just leave it at that, our understanding of the real nature of sin will be abysmally lacking. Cornelius Plantinga's book, Not the Way It's Supposed to Be opens up a panorama in understanding the magnitude and pervasiveness of what is commonly called "sin." I believe his book is especially helpful if one has had the narrow, legalistic view of sin rather than the looking at sin as more systemic in the corruptness of fallen humanity.

Shalom! , meaning "peace," is a common greeting in Israel and amongst Jews all over the world. Plantinga uses this common Hebrew word to describe things the way they ought to be. Hence, to him, sin is the absence of shalom. Plantinga, while affirming the various Biblical definitions for sin, goes further by saying that sin is actually the "smearing of a relationship, the grieving of one's divine parent and benefactor, a betrayal of the partner to whom one is joined by a holy bond." Again, sin violates Shalom.

The author acknowledges the classical view of original sin, which resulted in corruption and guilt. But he goes further by describing this corruption as "spiritual AIDS--the mysterious, systemic, infectious, and progressive attack on our spiritual immune system that eventually breaks it down and opens the way for hordes of opportunistic sins."

I believe a theme that recurs throughout Plantinga's book is that while sin is disease-like in its impact and destroys relationship, sin is in actuality a "heart problem." This ties in with what we've been discussing in Foundations for Effective Ministry, when we discussed the fact that most people try to change the external actions of sin without really delving into the heart issues. The human heart, says Plantinga, does what it pleases--it wants what it wants. Why, we don't know, but nonetheless, the human heart reaps what it sows.

One of the most interesting comments the author makes is the role Satan plays in human sin. This too ties in with the "heart" motif. According to Plantinga, Satan only deceives those who are self-deceived. Satan does not compel people to sin nor do the "powers" of the universe. That directly contradicts Flip Wilson's "the Devil made me do it!" So often Christians struggling against sin put too much emphasis on the external influence of Satan while ignoring the fact that we are tempted when, according to James, we are led away of our own lust, and then when that lust has conceived, it brings forth sin. It's always easier to point the finger to external circumstances or influences than to look one's self directly in the eye and come to grips with the corruption within.

In coming to grips why people get involved in aberrant doctrines or get taken in by false prophets, it's easy to look outward and blame the one who taught falsely. There is blame there, but what was in one's heart to begin with that would allow that outward influence to take root in the first place? While reading Ezekiel 14, which deals with people who "set up idols in their hearts, leading them to sin," I was struck by what occurs a few verses later in verses 9-10:

"And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel. And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity. The the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him..."

This Scripture seems to indicate to me that there is definitely culpability on the part of one who would listen to or seek after a false prophet. What idols are set up in the hearts of cult members that draw them to false understandings or wrong systems? Is it the idol of wanting to be God's own special people, to the exclusion of others? Is it the idol of modern-day Gnosticism--"I know something you don't know!" ? Is it the idol of being a self-made iconoclast who likes to bash other people to feel good about the self? Whatever the idol, it is a sin that must be repented of. It is the heart that needs to change.

Another interesting section is chapter eight, where Plantinga explores the relationship between sin and addiction. He concludes that what drives addiction along is not just brain, belly or loins, but the human heart. Humans long for wholeness and the fulfillment that can come only from God. The addiction is an idol in place of the true God whereby the idolater is caught in a cycle of delusion, obsession, ritual behavior and despair.

To make matters worse, these addictions actually flourish by our human attempts to master them! How often have I counseled people addicted to alcohol, drugs, pornography or sex where it seems the harder they try to stop the addictive behavior, the more ensnared they become! Plantinga concludes that the addict can recover only if he is finally willing to tell himself the truth by facing his addiction, confessing it, and admitting that he is helpless. In my own personal struggle with sin, not just "addiction," I have found the same thing is true. The more I struggle in my own human strength, the more ensnared I become. But when I get to the point in the struggle that I realize I am absolutely helpless and dependent upon our merciful God, that's when real progress begins. Self-reliance can be a very large idol in the heart that God will smash. He wants us to rely only on him.

He concludes his insightful, colorful book about sin by reminding us that to speak of sin without grace is to minimize the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and Shalom. But he also warns that neither should we speak of grace without talking about the immensity of sin, because that makes the cross of Christ a trivial thing.