Pleasure and Sin

“Lord, help us not to shy away from our own transgressions,

neither to hold the sins of others against them,

but to name sin with confidence that

your forgiveness has the power

to effect a just reconciliation in our world. Amen.”

— page 476, Common Prayer:

A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals

Hear that thunk?

“If I do it, it’s a pleasure. But if you do it, it’s a sin.”

He was lecturing a seminary class on St. Augustine, his favorite character from church history. I was a teaching assistant.

“If I do it, it’s a pleasure. But if you do it, it’s a sin.”

It was my third time to hear this lecture. I’d heard him toss that verbal grenade before. I knew it was coming, and when.

As always, he nailed the class with that line. Smiles and chuckles gave way to sudden embarrassed silence.

Busted.

The entire room knew exactly what he meant.

He went on to speak of God’s grace and forgiveness, but not before that significant pause. In that moment, the Holy Spirit scorched the hearts and minds of everyone that packed lecture hall.

“If I do it, it’s a pleasure. But if you do it, it’s a sin.” Ouch.

We’re taking time here this week to thoughtfully pray together. Join the rest of us today:

“Lord, help us not to shy away from our own transgressions,

neither to hold the sins of others against them.”

Jesus says, Let the one without sin cast the first stone. (John 8:7) Hear that thunk? I had to drop my rock.