jwright82
Puritan Board Post-Graduate
I do believe Bonhoeffer is correct. I don't think it is in anyway easy to decipher when inactivity should be considered sinful. Again, we are talking about a sin of omission, of which most are hard to decipher. When does a person become careless and sinful in regards to failing to lead their family spiritually for example? To use myself as an example, I do believe that about a year ago I was entirely guilty of being careless in regards to abortion. I could tell you all the reasons why I thought it was wrong, I would be able to tell you it was wrong, and whenever I saw a graphic image of an aborted baby I would be bothered by it. But consider that response in the Nazi Germany context. I had a moral opinion about abortion but that was it. I never wept over the injustice that happened in my city. I never felt true remorse for what was going on. It was just a political game to me. Until someone invited me to an abortion clinic and I witnessed the depths of the depravity of the situation. I witnessed men and women celebrate the fact that they had just murdered their child. I was broken and the Spirit convicted me of my carelessness. I didn't previous care. Today, my response doesn't look entirely different. I don't have time to minister daily at a clinic, or pregnancy help center, or elsewhere, else I would be abandoning my other Christian duties. However, my heart is different, I have wept for the unborn and my desire is to use less of my free time to watch movies and read big books and more of it to minister to men and women and offer both the Gospel and physical help to men and women at clinics.
I think if most of us were honest we would notice our indifference and carelessness. And yes, I think it can be sinful, because we close our eyes to what is going on in our neighborhoods and is protected under the law. Consider Lev 20.
I agree and recognize my own sinfulness in my attitude of "indifference." I have always been anti-abortion in my head. But since I'm not a mother and I'm not "a baby person" and I didn't visually see what was going on, I could be indifferent. I had even previously forced myself to watch abortion videos where the babies were torn apart and still I never acted. UGGHHH!!! The sinfulness within me. How could I be so "dead" and "indifferent?" Now, finally, after watching the 8 videos, I have begun to feel something and act. But I do still feel that lazy selfishness that just wants to be indifferent at the door, always trying to creep in. And so I force myself to watch the next video, so that I won't be "indifferent." I realize that there are serious gray areas everywhere on this topic but I do believe our indifference is sin and even if we don't go to the next protest, we must at least acknowledge this and pray about it.
It would appear to me that the Holy Spirit is stirring you to action here. Good for you! Continue to ask these questions. Your zeal and fire about this is encouraging. We need both individually and corporately need to speak out on moral issues. But does a guy or girl who gives money to his or her church or pray do any less than someone standing out front of planned parenthood? Although I encourage you to keep up the good fight. Some action may be more visible than others but it is action none the less. Great thread.