A Different View of Sin

In an essay written by Murray Rae, the definition and implication of sin was discussed in a way that goes deeper than what the evangelical church at large would define sin to be.

"Sin refers not first of all to the moral disorder of the world, though that is one dimension of sin, but primarily to the alienation of humanity from God. Sin is the effort of humanity to go its own way in defiance to God, and thus apart from him."

Going a step further, Dr. Metzger argues that at the heart of sin is self-love. In reference to Rae, the alienation from God occurs because of our defiance of him and the essence of his character. At the heart of this defiance is self-love. It is self-love that we see at the heart of the first sin in the garden; selfless love was nowhere to be found. It is the opposite of self-love that is the remedy for the world.

I believe that one will find at the heart of every sin is the self; and one's love for it.