Sweater Theology & the Doctrine of Sin

Dear Church Family,

In our most recent Sunday school class, I mentioned a song by the alternative rock band, Weezer. That’s right, I said Weezer. The song is over twenty years old, and it’s called “Undone – the Sweater Song.” Here’s the chorus: 

If you want to destroy my sweater Pull this thread as I walk away (as I walk away) Watch me unravel I'll soon be naked Lying on the floor, lying on the floor I've come undone 

I know, it may seem odd, but hear me out. Without trying to examine the original meaning, the various themes of the song, or what have you, I simply want to make this observation: the systematic theology that we develop from our study of Scripture (like that of the Westminster Standards) is like a sweater. Remove one doctrine (pull one thread) and your theology will come undone (you’ll soon be naked). Or, even if your theology doesn't come undone, altering one doctrine will often change the entire sweater.

Original Corruption and Actual Transgressions

Here's the point that I was trying to illustrate on Sunday. In our study of the first vow of church membership, we began with a study of the sixth chapter of the Westminster Confession of Faith, “Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment Thereof.” Portions of this chapter in the confession helpfully illuminate the biblical distinction between two kinds of sin: original corruption and actual transgressions (WCF 6.4).

Original corruption (or original sin) refers to the corrupt nature which we have inherited from our first parents, Adam and Eve, “whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good” (Psalm 51:5; Matthew 15:18-20). Actual transgressions are those sins which we commit which proceed from our inherited original corruption or depravity (Ephesians 2:1-3; James 1:14-15).

The Westminster Shorter Catechism summarizes this teaching about original corruption and actual transgressions in its definition of the sinfulness of man’s fallen estate: Question: Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate wherein man fell? Answer: The sinfulness of that estate wherein man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam's first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called Original Sin; together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it (WSC 18).

This distinction between original corruption (or original sin) and actual transgressions may seem overly pedantic and of no practical use. Yet, properly understanding the definition of sin and these categories of original sin is very important and very practical. 

The “Side B, Gay Christian Movement” and Concupiscence

Let me give you just one example of an issue that is has been plaguing Christians and the church for the last several years. There are some professing Christians who are part of what has come to be known as the “Side B, Gay Christian Movement” (one example of this movement is “Revoice”). In essence, they confess to be “gay but celibate” Christians. In so doing, they are actually saying (or at least, implying) that one of the aspects of original sin (the organic part, our corrupt nature) is not sin itself and therefore does not need to be repented of. Only “actual sins” need be repented of. [If you would like to read a description of the problems with these movements, I recommend Rosaria Butterfield’s short blog post: “What is wrong with gay Christianity? What is Side A and Side B anyway?”]

The theology of the so-called “Side B, Gay Christian Movement” is essentially an adoption of the Roman Catholic Church’s (RCC) doctrine of concupiscence. According to the RCC, concupiscence is the desire, lust, or inclination to evil in all human beings, but it is not sin itself and therefore, we are not thereby made guilty; and, we need not repent of this inclination (see the Catechism of the RCC, 405). Just so, there are some in the “gay but celibate Christian” movement who may repent and abstain of “actual sins” but who do not recognize the inclination to sin (a corrupt nature) as sinful in itself. 

Additionally, this movement also tends to speak about sins of commission (the actually breaking of God’s law) but fails to adequately deal with sins of omission (failure to abide by God’s law). Viewed this way, the pursuit of righteousness is not about positively seeking to keep God’s law, but only negatively seeking to not break God’s law. Again, the biblical categories in the definition of sin in the Westminster Standards is helpful here: Question: What is sin? Answer: Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God (WSC 14).

Conclusion

In contrast to the teaching of the “Side B, Gay Christian Movement” and the Roman Catholic Church’s doctrine of concupiscence, the Bible teaches us that we are by nature children of wrath and are inclined to indulge the desires of our flesh and of our mind (Ephesians 2:1-3). That’s the bad news. But, the good news of the gospel is that through the free gift of salvation, we are made alive together with Christ and raised up with Him (Ephesians 2:4-10). And, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Those who are born again by the Spirit of God (John 3:3-9) are washed, sanctified, and justified! 

What we once were, in Christ we are no longer: “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-12) 

If some of these terms are new to you (or perhaps even a bit confusing), here’s the bottom line: what we believe and understand about sin, redemption, how and why God saves people, human nature, sanctification – indeed all of theology – it’s all interrelated. Theology matters. Good theology is the sweater that we wear in our pilgrimage to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever (WSC 1)! I’ll see you in Sunday school as we examine more threads of the sweater. 

The Lord be with you! 

Pastor Peter M. Dietsch