Isn't "we are all sinners" a bit of a negative view on life ?

Answer 1

Yes. I prefer "we are only human". Most of what is called "sin" is rational behavior. Why should anyone feel guilty for behaving in their own rational self interest?

Answer 2

Actually, no. If we are all sinners than I'm no better than anyone else, and no one else is better than me. I don't have to try to be better than others, I don't have to try to be something I'm not. The fact that we all need a savior should be obvious to any intelligent observer. The fact that even when I am saved, and even when I do try to live my life for Jesus, that I don't deserve my salvation means I can still relate to those that are lost in sin. I'm not trying to be better than anyone else, I'm just trying to love God and love others, and show others the same hope in life that I've found. There is nothing negative about that.

Answer 3

I think I explained this to you already but I know some need a little repetition. Sin is an archery term that means you did not hit the exact sinner of the target. Practice helps so remember to sin is human to forgive is divine

Answer 4

It is a simple matter of self realization. The statement "we are all sinners" does not have degrees to it. Sins can be little or great, but sin all the same. Admitting that you are a sinner gives you the strength to overcome many occasions of sin. Temptation remains but we are more aware of its pitfalls. We can become better people.

Answer 5

I don't think so. It's like saying "we all make mistakes." It's realistic. None of us are perfect. It's not our hideousness that is the focus of salvation, it's our helplessness.

Okay, so I fail. So I can't do everything perfectly. God already knows that. He's already accounted for that. He's already made a way for that.

That frees me up to offer up the best I can do and to trust that He can use it.

I don't think it's negative at all. If I looked at my failures and believed that perfection and sinlessness were possible, but I just missed it - that it was just something bad about me, personally - that would be very discouraging to me.

Answer 6

icheeknows has it right.

The word meant "to miss the mark" when the archer's arrow missed the target.

There is no recrimination, just try again.

How more different could this possibly be from what the word incorrectly & harmfully came to mean through the ignorant missuse of so many, casting their "first stones" over the millenia since ?

Answer 7

That's a negative aspect of Mankind, that we have all sinned, but that doesn't reflect someone's entire outlook on life.
That would be like saying "The tornado tore the whole town to pieces and killed 100 residents." That's a negative statement, but not the whole picture. Good things happen, bad things happen.
Bad thing: We have all sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.
Good Thing: Jesus can save us from our sins if we believe in him, and trust him.
I can't think of a better happy ending to all the bad things that happen in the world than to be saved from eternal Hell by one person, and spend the rest of eternity in paridise because one person saved me. I can't think a more positive thought than to think of what Christ did for me, and that there's HOPE that I can be saved.

Answer 8

Yup, but at least it's consistent with who we are. If you look at it the opposite way, then you get a big disconnect when guilt comes along, and that would make Christianity a lie. Because we are guilty and none of us deserve Heaven. But when you recognize that truth, there is someone who can save you, and having hope is very positive.

Answer 9

It's a bit of the truth, I guess. I have yet to meet anyone who was without sin... Only Jesus is without sin. It's not really negative since we are redeemed by the only one who had no sin. We have a choice to take that redemption and claim it as it was intended.

Answer 10

After we are born of God, God doesn't see us as sinners. He sees the righteousnes of His Son.

It is impossible for those born of God to abide in sin (make it a comfortable habit) because of the Holy seed within.

Abiding is sin is being a sinner, as I see it.

Answer 11

That is so negative. I will prefer to say that everyone is born divine until we grew up and learn to defy the law. But like the sun hidden behind the clouds our divinity is never lost, just covered with our ignorance of the truth that we are all beautiful creation of God formed in His image and likeness...which is our righteousness.