Christians..An honest question?

Question

Do you ever get the slightest bit indignant that god says you are a sinner?This is an honest question to attempt communication and understanding. I don't believe but IF I did,then the idea of god saying I am a "sinner" and "my righteousness is as filthy rags" is really insulting to me. I don't think at all that I am a "filthy as rags sinner" In fact,I am quite moral in my actions. Do you just "accept" that you are BAD,or,do you FEEL like you are a sinner. Serious question

Thank you all so far,I will leave it open because I am genuinely interested in your views,and it's a nice change from the heated ones

Answer 1

Isaiah 64:6 [nkjv] ~ but we are like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and all our iniquities have taken us away.

hi... isn't it a wonderful time to be alive? i couldn't help but feel the need to answer your question, i'm not a pastor or a religious person or anyone who has any intention to convert you...so please let your defenses down...

that verse above was part of a prayer to the Lord for help, it was written by Isaiah the prophet and if you read the whole passage, you will realize that he was likening our righteousness to God's righteousness and how we can't even compare ourselves to God's shadow...

it was a way for him to express how humbled he was by the awesomeness of God and that only He could help Isaiah and his ppl in their time of need.

Isaiah was confessing to God that he knew mankind had sinned against Him and he was seeking forgiveness on behalf of mankind.

so in actuality, it was a humbled comparison to God... not God calling us filthy rag sinners...

so don't be disheartened, you can't be angry with God and not believe in Him at the same time.

Answer 2

let me put it this way- WITHOUT God I am filthy rags. With God through Christ, I have put on His righteousness. When I was young- I was known as the "perfect child". Even in church I did not feel like I needed to admit that I am a sinner because I was "the good girl". Then at 17 years old I started really looking at the Word of God and I realized that God is the only one that is Holy- so I fall so short of that. One lie as a child made me fall, and I know I did far more than that- so I needed a Savior. Think of it this way= God could say our righteousness is as filthy rags and leave us alone and not care to have a personal relationship with us- because He loves us, He sent His only son into the world to save us. Dying on the cross for us, must make you think that He cares- or He would not have done this- He wants to have a relationship with this unworthy person- and as I grow in my faith- He replaces my unrighteousness with His Righteousness.

Answer 3

Stop using your own standard of morality for a second and substitute God's, which says that anything less than 100% perfect is not good enough. Sure, you may be quite moral compared to other people, but do you not see how badly you miss the mark on His scale? And no matter how moral you are, there's no way for you to fix the damage that your inability to be 100% perfect has caused in the relationship between you and God. The only thing that can do this is to humbly ask God to fix what we cannot.

Answer 4

I don't feel indignant that God says I am a sinner, because I know it's true. In fact, it actually takes the pressure off to be perfect! Everyone sins, so it's not like it's just me. Hope this helps!

Answer 5

If you truly DON'T believe, then what's written in the Bible shouldn't have any effect on your thinking. If you really think you are "moral" enough then an "insult" is of no importance to you. It all started w/Adam and Eve' disobedience to God and every other failure of mankind to live a Godly life. Because we are born of women we all suffer from the "Original Sin". Because Jesus is perfect; without sin, we are in comparison "as filthy rags". Hope this helps, I can't explain myself very good.

Answer 6

Hi Mountain,

Actually a great question, thank you for askng. No I dont' get offended because God is God. He is perfect and nothing that is unclean can stand before Him. The phrase you refer to regarding filthy rags is used to illustrate the fact that we can't get to heaven through good works. We try to live good lives and do good things but this is not what gets us to heaven. Only the grace of God can get us to heaven. I don't accept that I am "bad" because I am not and neither are most people. But as humans none of us are perfect and the blood of Christ which covers us is what allows all of those imperfections to be washed away.

Answer 7

I used to think as you do, and that was why it took me a while to become one.

The problem is, our morality isn't going to do anything for us before a holy God.

See, even the "holy men" of ancient times who had visions of God's presence were devastated just by His holiness. Here's an example:

"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts." (Isaiah 6:5)

This guy was a prophet of God, and he was undone. It is only when we realized the depths of our own wickedness (not in practice, but also in motive and thought) that we can then reach out to God and ask for His mercy.

As long as we continue in the attitude, "I'm not such a bad guy, because I never killed or raped anyone." then we will have to face that same holy God at the judgment and try to defend ourselves based on whatever righteousness we think we have.

The standard of a holy life is the Ten Commandments. When we break one, it is the same as breaking them all, and the sin must be punished. But, if you have someone who paid your penalty, then justice is satisfied, and you are free. That is why Jesus came.

Answer 8

We are all BAD. Only God is Good. This means that God has set the standard of what is Good And Bad. And we can't in our current condition (imperfection) to reach this standard. But we can always Try! You get lost of points for persevering to do what in Good in God's eyes.
If you Hurt some one bad, how would you feel?
If you stole something, how would you feel?
And think there are some basic things that any person knows, even with out God telling us.

Answer 9

God hates sin. Not the sinner.

Answer 10

Everyone in this world are sinners. there was only one perfect man in this world, and that was Jesus. But, God is capable of saving all; I am a sinner. I fall short everyday. and it is depressing to know that I fail God daily. But, He loves me and forgives me. And, He loves everyone in this world; he's waiting for all to accept Him.