A Word to the Wise: The Modern Flattening of Sin—and What We Lose (Trevin Wax)
Whatever happened to the seven deadly sins? For centuries, theologians, philosophers, and poets treated pride, envy, sloth, gluttony, lust, wrath, and greed as a diagnostic of the human soul in its self-centered sickness. These sins were the biggest windows into the condition of humanity’s broken-down house, the particular ways the soul curves in on itself rather than turning upward to God…sin as sickness and sin as estrangement from God—can be found in Scripture. The trouble comes when we let the second picture eclipse the first.
When we recast sin as primarily a matter of feeling far from God rather than being in an objective state of rebellion against him, the solution gets altered. We no longer need a physician who prescribes a cure for a dying patient; we go looking for a therapist who helps us understand our feelings.
Our greatest need isn't for a Savior who will die to make us feel better about ourselves but for a Savior whose death will pardon rebels, a Great Physician whose blood can heal our sin-sick hearts, a Liberator who sets us free from our captivity.
Scripture gives us a view of sin large enough to require the gospel. Unless we understand what we've been saved from, we’ll never fully grasp what we've been saved for.
Trevin Wax, 4.24.26, The Modern Flattening of Sin—and What We Lose
Social science has reframed sin in terms of symptoms. We need a vision of sin large enough to require the gospel.
Whatever happened to the seven deadly sins? For centuries, theologians, philosophers, and poets treated pride, envy, sloth, gluttony, lust, wrath, and greed as a diagnostic of the human soul in its self-centered sickness. These sins were the biggest windows into the condition of humanity’s broken-down house, the particular ways the soul curves in on itself rather than turning upward to God…sin as sickness and sin as estrangement from God—can be found in Scripture. The trouble comes when we let the second picture eclipse the first.
When we recast sin as primarily a matter of feeling far from God rather than being in an objective state of rebellion against him, the solution gets altered. We no longer need a physician who prescribes a cure for a dying patient; we go looking for a therapist who helps us understand our feelings.
Our greatest need isn't for a Savior who will die to make us feel better about ourselves but for a Savior whose death will pardon rebels, a Great Physician whose blood can heal our sin-sick hearts, a Liberator who sets us free from our captivity.
Scripture gives us a view of sin large enough to require the gospel. Unless we understand what we've been saved from, we’ll never fully grasp what we've been saved for.
Trevin Wax, 4.24.26, The Modern Flattening of Sin—and What We Lose
Social science has reframed sin in terms of symptoms. We need a vision of sin large enough to require the gospel.
Four Things to Know This Week
1. A Calling to Die: Ben Sasse shows what it means to approach dying as a Christian (James R. Wood, World Opinions)
2. Lifeway Trustees Elect Ryan Blackwell as President and CEO (Baptist Press)
3. 2026 Committee on Nominations Report Released (Baptist Press)
4. GuideStone, ERLC Applaud House Passage of Clergy Act (Baptist Press)
Thank you for reading. Please share it with pastors and other AMSs you believe would benefit.
To the praise of His glory,
Ray
P. S. I also host the “SBCAL Podcast with Ray Gentry” each Tuesday morning.
1. A Calling to Die: Ben Sasse shows what it means to approach dying as a Christian (James R. Wood, World Opinions)
2. Lifeway Trustees Elect Ryan Blackwell as President and CEO (Baptist Press)
3. 2026 Committee on Nominations Report Released (Baptist Press)
4. GuideStone, ERLC Applaud House Passage of Clergy Act (Baptist Press)
Thank you for reading. Please share it with pastors and other AMSs you believe would benefit.
To the praise of His glory,
Ray
P. S. I also host the “SBCAL Podcast with Ray Gentry” each Tuesday morning.
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