The Social Dimension of Sin

I believe that social sin is prevalent in our society along with individual sin. Persons who oppose personal sin may be drawn into the cooperate nature of sin through evil acts of government, economic structures, or some kind of group. Individual sin has always been the focus among evangelical Christians and we have ignored or addressed this issue inadequately. Sin and salvation have to do with individual human beings, but at the same time, the Bible also talks about a group or collective sin.[1]

Recognizing the social sin can become difficult as we are not inclined to regard matters in which we do not have a very active role or choice. If someone else is in charge or leader then we may ignore the issue completely. Sometimes our membership in a group can be so conditioned that our very perception of reality is colored by it. We may also not recognize group selfishness because it may actually involve individual unselfishness. At times when we are part of a group, we may display attitudes of superiority towards it. Being removed from actual evil can also make it seem less evil.

I believe that the world is under Satan’s control and it is an organized system of spiritual force. The world being evil can corrupt whatever it touches. I also believe that corporate personality plays a role in transmitting evil in the world. As a strategy to overcome social sin, I believe that regeneration is important since individual human hearts and personalities are corrupted and only it can bring a lasting change.

There are also structures of evil in the world that transcends individual human will and sometimes reformation may work out. We should be careful about how we are trying to bring this reformation. I do not agree with revolution as a solution since the basic principles of revolution contradicts the teachings of Jesus Christ many times. We cannot justify it on the basis of some important teachings of the Bible and hence I do not think that it should be used.[2]

[1] Erickson, Christian Theology, 658.

[2] Erickson, Christian Theology, 674.

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