What Is Sin?
Sermon
George and Doreen lived in a prefab. They'd lived there for sixty years. They bought it just offer the war, when they were married. It was only a temporary measure at the time, but George and Doreen loved it and loved living in the little community which grew up there, of all young couples recently married. In those days of clearly defined household chores, Doreen tried hard to make their home as beautiful and comfortable as possible while George looked after the garden and the DIY.
They soon had a home of which they were justly proud. Soon they had children, who grew up there with few problems and much happiness, and who eventually moved on to live their own lives elsewhere, as did the neighbours' children. After many years, most of the couples in the prefabs became gradually wealthier and were able to buy proper houses of their own.
The little community began to shrink. Soon, only a few couples remained, and the empty prefabs became derelict and something of an eyesore. But George and Doreen were happy. They continued to improve their property well into their seventies, and they never stopped loving it. They were never tempted to move.
But as people in general became more affluent, the local Council was anxious to improve conditions for everyone, especially the elderly and those living in "sub-standard" housing. It was time for the prefabs, which had only been intended to last for around ten years, to go.
The council offered to re-house the few remaining residents in purpose-built bungalows under the care of a warden, and give them a cash sum for their prefabs as well. George and Doreen's few remaining neighbours, now quite elderly like George and Doreen, jumped at this opportunity of a lifetime and couldn't wait to go.
But George and Doreen were determined to remain in their own little prefab, no matter what the enticements to move. Not for them the pleasures of modern appliances or the delights of labour-saving kitchens. Their prefab was home and they weren't about to lose it.
They refused to budge. Various different people from the Council came to talk to them, persuading, cajoling, almost threatening on occasions, but to no avail. George and Doreen were determined to stay where they were until they died.
At the age of 86 and 88 that was understandable, but it didn't suit the Council's needs. They needed to tidy up the area in order to attract new trade and they had the land marked out for a large new shopping mall which the area urgently needed. All that was standing in the way of progress was one small prefab and two elderly people.
After many wasted months, trying to be sympathetic to George and Doreen and to meet their needs, the Council served a compulsory purchase order on George and Doreen and forcibly removed them to sheltered housing which was much more suitable for them at their age than the prefab.
A week later, George fell in the unfamiliar surroundings and broke his hip. He died in hospital. Without George, Doreen became disorientated and confused. She was put into a Home for the Elderly Mentally and Emotionally Confused. Three months later she too died, alone and in misery.
You can see both sides of the story. One stubborn old couple standing in everybody's way, preventing the larger community from having the shopping mall they both needed and desired. So one old couple holding back thousands of people, preventing millions of pounds in ivestment and keeping the area as a deprived backwoods. And that stubborn old couple had been offered a very good deal.
On the other hand, why should they move from their home just because it was inconvenient for modern life?
A similar dilemma faced King Ahab around three thousand years ago. He desired Naboth's vineyard, but Naboth refused to give it up. The vineyard had been in Naboth's family for generations and it was his. Ahab offered Naboth a very good deal, but still Naboth refused to sell.
So Queen Jezebel took a hand. She rigged a trial and had Naboth condemned. He was executed by stoning and King Ahab took possession of Naboth's vineyard.
Elijah the prophet was very clear about the rights and wrongs of the situation. In God's view, he said, the little man counts for just as much as the great corporation and the huge business deals and the convenience of the public. In God's view, the little man is entitled to his own possessions and if he wishes to keep them, that is his right.
King Ahab's greed led to a particularly nasty kind of murder in which the sin is very clear. But perhaps the real sin was in assuming that his own desires should be gratified, no matter what anyone else thought or felt. In our own day when rigged trials and murders are not an issue, it's less easy to tease out the sin, especially when our own convenience is at risk and when we can convince ourselves that what we are doing is for the good of all, and especially for the good of the little man.
It was obviously much better for George and Doreen to live in sheltered housing with all mod cons and someone to care for them. Everyone could see that. Yet the end result for George and Doreen was the same as the end result for Naboth - death.
When a woman anointed Jesus' feet with oil and massaged them on her hair, the entire household was shocked beyond belief. But Jesus commended her and her actions.
Jesus still turns our ideas of right and wrong upside down. Let us open ourselves to him and trust in him, for that's the only way we shall ever really discover what is sin and what isn't. Jesus will show us the right way, if only we can allow ourselves to hear him.
They soon had a home of which they were justly proud. Soon they had children, who grew up there with few problems and much happiness, and who eventually moved on to live their own lives elsewhere, as did the neighbours' children. After many years, most of the couples in the prefabs became gradually wealthier and were able to buy proper houses of their own.
The little community began to shrink. Soon, only a few couples remained, and the empty prefabs became derelict and something of an eyesore. But George and Doreen were happy. They continued to improve their property well into their seventies, and they never stopped loving it. They were never tempted to move.
But as people in general became more affluent, the local Council was anxious to improve conditions for everyone, especially the elderly and those living in "sub-standard" housing. It was time for the prefabs, which had only been intended to last for around ten years, to go.
The council offered to re-house the few remaining residents in purpose-built bungalows under the care of a warden, and give them a cash sum for their prefabs as well. George and Doreen's few remaining neighbours, now quite elderly like George and Doreen, jumped at this opportunity of a lifetime and couldn't wait to go.
But George and Doreen were determined to remain in their own little prefab, no matter what the enticements to move. Not for them the pleasures of modern appliances or the delights of labour-saving kitchens. Their prefab was home and they weren't about to lose it.
They refused to budge. Various different people from the Council came to talk to them, persuading, cajoling, almost threatening on occasions, but to no avail. George and Doreen were determined to stay where they were until they died.
At the age of 86 and 88 that was understandable, but it didn't suit the Council's needs. They needed to tidy up the area in order to attract new trade and they had the land marked out for a large new shopping mall which the area urgently needed. All that was standing in the way of progress was one small prefab and two elderly people.
After many wasted months, trying to be sympathetic to George and Doreen and to meet their needs, the Council served a compulsory purchase order on George and Doreen and forcibly removed them to sheltered housing which was much more suitable for them at their age than the prefab.
A week later, George fell in the unfamiliar surroundings and broke his hip. He died in hospital. Without George, Doreen became disorientated and confused. She was put into a Home for the Elderly Mentally and Emotionally Confused. Three months later she too died, alone and in misery.
You can see both sides of the story. One stubborn old couple standing in everybody's way, preventing the larger community from having the shopping mall they both needed and desired. So one old couple holding back thousands of people, preventing millions of pounds in ivestment and keeping the area as a deprived backwoods. And that stubborn old couple had been offered a very good deal.
On the other hand, why should they move from their home just because it was inconvenient for modern life?
A similar dilemma faced King Ahab around three thousand years ago. He desired Naboth's vineyard, but Naboth refused to give it up. The vineyard had been in Naboth's family for generations and it was his. Ahab offered Naboth a very good deal, but still Naboth refused to sell.
So Queen Jezebel took a hand. She rigged a trial and had Naboth condemned. He was executed by stoning and King Ahab took possession of Naboth's vineyard.
Elijah the prophet was very clear about the rights and wrongs of the situation. In God's view, he said, the little man counts for just as much as the great corporation and the huge business deals and the convenience of the public. In God's view, the little man is entitled to his own possessions and if he wishes to keep them, that is his right.
King Ahab's greed led to a particularly nasty kind of murder in which the sin is very clear. But perhaps the real sin was in assuming that his own desires should be gratified, no matter what anyone else thought or felt. In our own day when rigged trials and murders are not an issue, it's less easy to tease out the sin, especially when our own convenience is at risk and when we can convince ourselves that what we are doing is for the good of all, and especially for the good of the little man.
It was obviously much better for George and Doreen to live in sheltered housing with all mod cons and someone to care for them. Everyone could see that. Yet the end result for George and Doreen was the same as the end result for Naboth - death.
When a woman anointed Jesus' feet with oil and massaged them on her hair, the entire household was shocked beyond belief. But Jesus commended her and her actions.
Jesus still turns our ideas of right and wrong upside down. Let us open ourselves to him and trust in him, for that's the only way we shall ever really discover what is sin and what isn't. Jesus will show us the right way, if only we can allow ourselves to hear him.
