We Are All Sinners; Christians Just Acknowledge It

https://www.yahoo.com/news/love-them-god-says-why-144354328.html 

Recently I wrote a column about what it might look like if those who profess their Christian faith spent less time harrumphing about it and more time attempting to imitate the Jesus they claim to follow.

Having spent the past 40-plus years preaching and writing about the good news as it’s put forth in the New Testament — our faith’s foundational text — I’ve concluded Christianity’s overriding message is: “Love them all.”

Jesus said God’s commandments were: love God with all your heart, and love other people as much as yourself. That’s it.

He, St. Paul and the other New Testament writers repeatedly reinforced this principle.

St. Paul: Even if I’m a prophet who knows all mysteries, even if I can move mountains with my faith, but I’m not consumed by love, then I’m just a noisy, clanging gong.

St. John: The one who doesn’t walk in love doesn’t know God, because God is love.

If you read the New Testament, you can’t miss this principle, unless you’re trying to miss it.

Which raises obvious questions: Why do Christians so routinely miss it? Why do we—and by “we,” I mean nearly all of us—fail to obey the gospel’s very foundation?

That answer is simple: we are all sinners!

The author of this post surmises that, "oh, if you were really a Christian why wouldn't you act like one? God is clear on his message, and it's such an easy thing to do."

Well... if it were so easy, then God wouldn't have made it his principle message, now would he?

The implication of Christianity isn't the equivalent of selling ice to Eskimos in the arctic. 

Why has there only been one perfect person in the history of humanity? Have you ever noticed that nobody even claims to be perfect? Even the most devout atheist doesn't claim perfection. 

The fall of man (when Eve was seduced by Satan in the garden of Eden) is responsible for our sinful nature. In fact, our sinful nature is the essence of the human condition. It literally is what we are.

The answer to why Christians can't just love everyone as they are commanded by God is so simple it's silly: we are sinners. Christians recognize their sinful nature, and feel shame for it. But this is why God sent his only Son into the world: To die on the cross for the shame of your sins. 

Christians desire to be better. To do better. They feel bad about their nature. They seek forgiveness. But, they know they will always succumb to what they are: sinners.

The question shouldn't be, "Why are Christians sinners?" The question should be, "Why aren't sinners Christians?" Those who don't feel shame for their sinful nature is much more intriguing than why Christians are sinners.

To be Christian is to have shame for what you are. To acknowledge your nature. To try to be better. We will all fall short in the eyes of God. But he knows our hearts.

Luke 16:15 Then he said to them, "You like to look good in public, but God knows your evil hearts.