Spiritual problems lead to psychological problems. I do not agree with the modern day thught that because a child was abused they are damaged and will abuse other children.. Or be a murderer or whatever.. We excuse peoples sin to much.
we all have things that happen, And have bad days, Some had bad childhoods and some had bad early adulthoods. But look at the apostles. and all they endured,, Look at the prophets and all they endured, did they go out sinning? No.. And then if nothing else. we have the greatest example of what a bad day really is..
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Hi, sorry I've attached your whole post a I don't want to make a comment on all of it. Mainly your first sentence but I haven't figured out how to.
Yes I agree with you in that Spiritual problems lead to psychological problems.
I would be interested to hear you expand on this. By this I mean what spiritual problems and what psychological problems then manifest.
The apostles would have sinned, no doubt about it.
Just a look at what Paul says
1 Timothy 1:12-16
Glory to God for His Grace
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
Even though Paul says "I was formerly" he then says "Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief" he says am and not was.
Paul confronts Peter concerning Peters hypocrisy.
Then we have Romans 7 which will be debated until the time Jesus says "Time up"
Was he describing his experience as a follower of Jesus or as a Jew?
In either case he is describing a struggle with sin that believers and non believers will have and it will be ongoing until we die.
He talks about the good he wants to do but doesn't do yet when he doesn't do it it's not him but sin that resides in his flesh.
To be honest this part of Romans does my head in, I can't get my head around it.
Of course they didn't go out sinning but they may sinned when they went out, if Paul had to confront Peter concerning his hypocrisy is it possible that Peter was a hypocrite when preaching the gospel?
But amazing news, fantastic news, the gospel
Romans 7:24-25
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
In our mind/heart we are slaves to Gods laws and it's Jesus who delivers us.
The apostles never excused people's sins and we must remember that the culture at the time was that people were held accountable for their sin but that does not mean that their sins were not as a result of psychological problems.
When Jesus encountered the adulteress woman he asked "does no one condemn you, no she replied" Then he says "neither do I now go sin no more" (Just so you know I don't think he was expecting her to never ever sin again)
I agree that the culture today people with psychological problems who sin then it's a product of their environment.
But bear in mind we as beleivers are defining sin, modern secular psychology isn't.
As you know I believe believers can walk in sin which I think of commission and omission.
Sin is sin and we don't have excuses regardless of circumstances, we are responsible for what we do.
The only answer to sin is Jesus. It's Jesus that delivers us.
Who will pull us out of the pit, actually who sits with us in the pit? Jesus. He is the answer full stop.
This is what needs to preached in church.
A great price was paid for your sin, the price paid is not a blank cheque to sin. It was paid to renconcile you to God, have a restored relationship and release you from sin.
But to me before condemning a believer who is blatantly sinning we need to ask them why they are.
Then we take it from there.
