In case you missed it, the Church of Rome recently updated its list of sins that can condemn humanity to the fires of hell. The new list appeared in the March 9th edition of the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano; I found it in this article in The Times of London.
Joining what presumably is still the well-known list of deadly sins—lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, anger, envy and pride—these new sins arise out of our failures as a society more than as individuals. The sins include environmental pollution, genetic manipulation, the use or sale of drugs, the causing of poverty and the accumulation of ‘excessive’ wealth. No doubt we can safely conclude that everyone who has had any part in Western civilization over the last century or more stands thoroughly condemned before God on the basis of these trespasses.
What is the reason for this promulgation of new sins? A bedrock principle of Christianity—even, I suspect, within the Church of Rome—is found in the Biblical declaration that “There is none righteous, no, not one … for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:10, 23). Every human being requires Christ’s salvation, even those who recycle often and give the whole of their income away to the poor.
The cynic in me wonders if Rome is preparing for the sale of a new form of indulgences: carbon offsets! If we plant a tree, might we reduce our time in purgatory? But then I wonder if the Catholic Church is misguidedly attempting to render itself relevant and attractive by capitalizing on the self-loathing and hatred prevalent amongst Western elites. Never mind that Western society and its economic philosophy have contributed to raising the standard of living of more people around the world than any other movement in history. Western culture, capitalism and affluence are now works of sin, acts of evil. However, since Western liberals have rejected the church because of its stance on homosexuality and abortion, could they be won by appeals to partner with it against the serious issue of globalization? I can see the evangelistic crusades now….
In all seriousness, the West does seem to embrace and propagate some of the most ungodly and inhumane activities and structures. Most of us recognize that our society, whose freedom we would fight to defend, has seriously compromised its morality in the pursuit of money and power. Let us not be naive: Western civilization—including all things American—cannot be equated with the work or will of God in the world. Since all of humanity has been affected by sin, it follows that all the systems, philosophies and structures of humanity have been infected by sin. Our problem is not political—it is ontological. Christ is the only answer, for He alone has the means to change the human heart. Until all are won and the eschaton arrives, humanity’s darkened heart will continue to determine the darkness of its civilizations.
We need not watch “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” or “MTV Cribs” to recognize the obscenity of wealth in the West. A walk down any of the neglected streets in our gilded cities will reveal the horrible inequities in our society and display the devastation caused by drugs, alcohol and sexual immorality. A trip to the 2/3rds world would only confirm what we could learn at home—if only we would open our eyes. But if and when we roam that section of the world, we must not fall prey to the knee-jerk reaction of blaming the West for its plight. Whether African, South American, Indian or Oceanic, local leaders and governments in the 2/3rds world share a measure of responsibility for the conditions in their countries. Absent the reign of God, man’s boundless inhumanity to man will always manifest.
If there is a value to the publication of these new sins, it is that they could expand our sense of the nature of sin. We tend to privatize sin. We seem ignorant of our participation in and obligation for the sin of our community, economy, and/or country. It is not enough for us to repent from our own personal failings; we must humble ourselves on behalf of our governments and employers. We must ask for God’s mercy to fall upon all of our leaders and the leaders of all the nations; we must intercede with God on behalf of His creation, which suffers great violence and harm as the result of the darkened heart of mankind. And we must awake to the enormity of humanity’s need for deliverance. Christ’s work was about much more than our own individual need of redemption. Sin’s reign is global; but be of good cheer, Christ has overcome the world!
Let us then greet this new enumeration of sins in an attitude of humility and repentance. Let us join together in seeking God’s deliverance—not for ourselves or our families alone, but for all the people of our land.
