Cool.
So we have missing the mark and not doing His Will, transgression against the law, willful and un-willful disobedience, a falling short of what it means to be human, not doing what we know (awareness) we ought to do, and it is whatever God says it is.
The missing the mark and falling short of what God truly purposed humans to be are explanations that I more fully understand; that the purpose of humanity is to be in communion with God and falling short of that purpose is a result of the fall. In other words, the mark or target is communion with God and anything less is to be less than human because it goes against our purpose.
But there's a verse that's kind of haunted me and I can't yet tell if it's haunted me in a good way or bad way.
Being Orthodox, I see consumption of anything, television, conversation etc. not unlike food so the following verse is, if I'm not over-reacting, pretty whoa...
Romans 14:23 (King James Version)
23And he that doubteth is ****ed if he eat, because he eateth not of faith:
for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Even the end of that verse goes beyond food in a literal sense. I know that this verse doesn't mean that if we have faith then we can sin; that sin ceases to be a sin if done out of faith, but the verse strikes me humble.
I mean, if every thought, action, word etc. (they're all actions really) are not of faith, then you can sin up a storm. I mean, I could read the bible, quote it, deliver the good news, think about God but if I do all these things and do them without faith?????
Sin!!!!!!
Now, I don't know about you guys but I live in a pretty modern world. A place where what God purposed as natural seems to be unnatural and the unnatural seems natural. Is everything I do, of faith? No! When I'm pumping gas and sighing at the little numbers zipping past faster than the gas is coming out of the nozzle, are my actions of faith? No! He is risen! When I roll my eyes at that dood at the Quickie-Mart who doesn't speak English because he brings me a half-pint of skim Milk, a box of Ho-Ho's and some pokemon playing cards when all I asked him for was today's paper, are my actions in that moment, of faith???? No! He is risen!
So I guess here is the follow up question... How can we sin less? Should we even put our focus on not sinning? Should we instead just direct all our actions toward Him and as a happy side-effect, enjoy sinning less? Or should we just live a life of avoiding a list of do-nots? Is seeking out the do-nots less practical than seeking out the dos?
Lord have mercy.....