the most literal definition of the word sin in the bible is missing the mark. we don't like that much because that means all of our sin is basically the same. all of us miss the mark because all of us are human.
we prefer sin to be breaking the law.
there are those among us, myself included, who grew up believing this way. although i will say that it is through bible study in my early years that i knew the translation.
like the young ruler, some of us take comfort in the fact that we have kept the law from an early age.
the answer to us is the same as it was to this proudly pious young man. jesus acknowledges that we have done so, that we have done our best to follow all of the rules and been successful.
and then jesus tells him to sell all of his possessions and give it to the poor.
this is the mark, and the young man misses it by a long shot. he has more wealth than most and he wants to keep it. he has the respect of his peers and wants to keep that.
the poor are not respected. it is not only the material wealth that he doesn't want to part with. it is his feeling of superiority. it is the comparison we all make. it tells him he is better.
we all miss the mark.
probably in the most common way we do this is by redefining the mark to make it more attainable.
sin is not a behavior. it is an attitude.
it is comparing ourselves to others and realizing that we are all of us the same in god's sight. we are equally loved. we are equally important.
when an archer misses the mark, the answer is more practice.
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