Hamartiology (Hauerwas, The Peaceful Kingdom, 30-35)We are friends of the crucified, but we are also the crucifiers. We must be trained to see ourselves as sinful, not obvious, so fundamental that we must teach ourselves to recognize it. We cannot perceive it when we are formed by it. Sin does not have the universal tendency to be inhuman or immoral (although that implies it), we are sinners because we deceive ourselves about the nature of reality and therefore crucify the one who calls us to the kingdom of God. Discovering the true identity of self in life, death, resurrection of Jesus. The story of God tells us that we are sinners, relating to God as unfaithfulness, rebellion and selfishness. We are created for loyalty, but our sinfulness is loyalty to things other than God. Sin is said to be pride, self-love, lust, Sloth. . . it's all of that, very complex. Sin: To the extent that I refuse to be faithful to God's way, to live as part of God's life, my life takes on the character of rebellion. Sin – not only to overestimate capabilities, but to overwhelm our powers, author of our stories. Sin – Challenging and rejecting the fatherhood of God, refusal to live as creatures. Will to power, pretending not to be limited when we are limited, making ourselves the center of the universe and thus subjecting others to our will, this injustice is sin. (Niebuhr)How it works with us.1. Conspiring to make lies powerful by structuring them to gain consensus.2. The "objectivity" of the majority allows for the charge that those who dissent are immoral (not just wrong).3. So we defend our positions as truth, but our sins/lies become root and branch of violence. Learn to use the language of sin about ourselves and not just others! But not stuck there, called to be righteous and live the life made possible by God's redemption on the cross. Sin is not just a mistake or a wrong action, it is a wrong being or an exaggeration, the fundamental form is the self-deception. Freedom as a possession or conquest, rather than as a gift, is a sin. Controlling everything and not trusting is a sin. Sin – fundamental orientation of the self. Character – formed by the story that we must do everything (pride) or nothing (sloth) See ourselves as God sees and we can have the freedom to move forward, God sees me as a sinner but there is still grace .The nature of sin It's about salvation: basically good has bad parts, then evil is saved; corrupt and rebellious, then transformation is necessary. It refers to ministry: encouraging one to do better, or repent and be born again! Terms, causes of sin