by Carter Brown
Our understanding of sin directly affects our understanding of the Gospel. So for the sake of our own worship and our instruction of our kids, we need to make sure we understand sin properly. There are a number of avenues we could pursue to accomplish this goal. I could recommend a variety of books or sermon series or write a long and thorough paper outlining a systematic theology of sin. But I don’t want to do any of that here.
Instead, I simply want to share an explanation of sin that has been incredibly helpful to me and my understanding and has helped me teach on the topic of sin to children and teens for years. All of this comes from a book entitled “Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be” by Cornelius Plantinga.
Shalom
Plantinga begins his explanation of sin by explaining the biblical concept of shalom. Shalom is a Hebrew word that refers to the “webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight… shalom, in other words, is the way things ought to be.” This peaceful utopia is what existed in the Garden of Eden before the fall. It’s how he designed the world to function.
In contrast to that, Plantinga defines sin as “any thought , desire, emotion, word, or deed – or its particular absence, that displeases God and deserves blame.” At risk of stating the obvious, sin and shalom are not compatible. Plantinga explains, “at its core, human sin is a violation of our human end, which is to build shalom and thus to glorify and enjoy God forever… sin is culpable shalom-breaking.”
Corruption, Perversion, Pollution, and Disintegration
Shalom refers to an environment where nothing breaks or functions incorrectly. But when sin is introduced into that environment, it immediately begins to reverse shalom and introduce decay. Plantinga explains that sin leads to corruption and perversion where things are not used for what they were intended. This then opens the door to pollution, where new things are brought in to replace the joys given to us by God. All of this works together toward the steady disintegration of our consciences and our society.
One of the results of sin is more sin. The corrupting effects of the shalom-shattering fall of man is that the economy of the world is broken and corrupted and lends itself to more corruption and disintegration.
Grace and a New Shalom
This is the reality we live in – but it’s not the end of the story. Plantinga reminds his readers of the biblical promises of redemption and the future hope of the New Heavens and New Earth where “the former things have passed away” (Rev 21:4). This gives us plenty of reasons not to despair.
With confidence in the work of Jesus to defeat sin, Plantinga declares, “creation is stronger than sin and grace stronger still.” Christians have hope that one day we will return to shalom, a perfect place where “death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore” (Rev 21:4)
Talking to Your Kids
Whenever our parenting moves past behavior modification and into character growth, we inevitably have conversations about sin. We answer our children’s questions about why they get angry or why their friends were rude. I would humbly suggest that those are fantastic opportunities to tell your kids about Eden and the way it was all supposed to be, and about the fall and how nothing is how it’s supposed to be anymore, and how one day it will all be back how it’s supposed to be again, and that everyone who believes in the sin-defeating work of Jesus will be welcomed into that shalom. These are fantastic opportunities to tell your kids about the Gospel.
Their understanding of sin directly affects their understanding of the Gospel. So tell your kids about shalom and why you’re looking forward to its return.