Bible Study Sins of Omission - Evil in Disguise.

[Tenchi]

James 4:17
17 So whoever knows the right thing to do
and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
​

Imagine a man walking along a beach with his dog one sunny, summer morning. Even though its early, there are a good number of people out enjoying the sand and surf. There's even a lifeguard seated on his tower, scanning the territory for danger and those in need of rescue. As the man's dog romps in the foamy waves rushing up onto the beach, the man notices a swimmer - a young woman - a good eighty yards out from the beach, flailing her arms in an obvious panic. The noise of the wind and waves, however, drown out her cries for help, though the man can see that she's shouting frantically for aid.

Being a highly-trained lifeguard himself, the man could help the drowning woman, reaching her far faster than the on-duty lifeguard could. But, he's not eager to get wet. And he hadn't come out to the beach to save anyone; he just wants a nice, pleasant stroll along the water's edge. Besides, it would be dangerous to give aid to the drowning lady. Let the on-duty lifeguard do his job. And so, the man continues on his way, smiling at the antics of his dog, enjoying the warmth of the sunshine and salty smell of the ocean, no one paying him the least attention. Behind him, the young woman sinks from view to her death.

Now, imagine that same man, when he sees the drowning woman, swimming out to her and pushing her under. Having abandoned his dog and leapt into the surf, he's attracted the attention of some of the nearby beach crowd and the eye of the life-guard, too. And so, when he reaches the young woman, who thinks she's being rescued, and plunges her beneath the waves, those looking on are horrified and scream in shock at what they're witnessing. By the time the lifeguard has swum out to the man and the woman he's murdering, the poor young woman is dead.

Question: Was the man in the first instance any less guilty of murder of the young woman than in the second instance? Was his sin of omission in the first case any less evil than his sin of commission in the second? No. But the appearance of evil was not nearly as plain in the first scenario, was it? To those looking on, the man's lethal neglect of the drowning woman was not even noticed, his passive murder of the woman happening without any response from any of them, though it was happening in full view of them all.

This is what is particularly awful about the one who knows to do good and refuses to do it. The great evil of this choice may not be evident to onlookers at all. This enables the person who makes such a choice to do it without any challenge (save that of the Holy Spirit, perhaps, and conscience, if both haven't fallen silent), embracing facile excuses for their wicked omission. And all the person has to do in making such a choice is nothing, which is why Christians are often so soft on this particular type of sin. They object to people who actively do evil - murderers, rapists, bank robbers, serial killers, etc. - not to people who do evil by simply doing nothing.

But the Christian leader - a pastor, perhaps - who knows he ought to evangelize the lost and teach his congregants to do so, and to disciple others, and to strongly foster prayer, and to preach the truth however much it offends his "flock," but who does none of these things is just as guilty of sin as the porn addict, or the gossip, or the liar. He may do other things instead, things that are more enjoyable to him, that play to his strengths, that only garner praise, things that are good, that are constructive and "Christian," and so obscure his sins of omission entirely. Those looking on just see a "smiling man walking his dog along the beach," not the murderer he really is.

The Christian layperson, too, may be guilty of knowing to do good and not doing it. They know they ought to invite the homeless man in church on Sunday morning to have some lunch. They know they ought to sit with their grieving friend and offer what comfort they can. They know they ought to spend time in study of God's word rather than sit idle in front of the t.v. night after night. But they don't. Like the man on the beach, they develop convenient excuses for their neglect of doing right, and walk on past what ought to be done, consoling themselves that doing nothing isn't anything like shooting someone with a gun, or selling drugs to children, or getting blind drunk and crashing your car into a pedestrian. Those are truly evil things, not simply refraining from right action.

So, how about you? Are you the sort of person James described? Are there right things you know to do and are not doing them? Friend, if there are, you sin and are cut off from joyful, life-changing fellowship with God, whatever you might feel or imagine about you and your Maker.

James 3:13
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

James 3:17-18
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

 

[WIP]

Being a highly-trained lifeguard himself,

Does this have any bearing on the situation?

 

[WIP]

James 4:17
17 So whoever knows the right thing to do
and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
​

Imagine a man walking along a beach with his dog one sunny, summer morning. Even though its early, there are a good number of people out enjoying the sand and surf. There's even a lifeguard seated on his tower, scanning the territory for danger and those in need of rescue. As the man's dog romps in the foamy waves rushing up onto the beach, the man notices a swimmer - a young woman - a good eighty yards out from the beach, flailing her arms in an obvious panic. The noise of the wind and waves, however, drown out her cries for help, though the man can see that she's shouting frantically for aid.

Being a highly-trained lifeguard himself, the man could help the drowning woman, reaching her far faster than the on-duty lifeguard could. But, he's not eager to get wet. And he hadn't come out to the beach to save anyone; he just wants a nice, pleasant stroll along the water's edge. Besides, it would be dangerous to give aid to the drowning lady. Let the on-duty lifeguard do his job. And so, the man continues on his way, smiling at the antics of his dog, enjoying the warmth of the sunshine and salty smell of the ocean, no one paying him the least attention. Behind him, the young woman sinks from view to her death.

Now, imagine that same man, when he sees the drowning woman, swimming out to her and pushing her under. Having abandoned his dog and leapt into the surf, he's attracted the attention of some of the nearby beach crowd and the eye of the life-guard, too. And so, when he reaches the young woman, who thinks she's being rescued, and plunges her beneath the waves, those looking on are horrified and scream in shock at what they're witnessing. By the time the lifeguard has swum out to the man and the woman he's murdering, the poor young woman is dead.

Question: Was the man in the first instance any less guilty of murder of the young woman than in the second instance? Was his sin of omission in the first case any less evil than his sin of commission in the second? No. But the appearance of evil was not nearly as plain in the first scenario, was it? To those looking on, the man's lethal neglect of the drowning woman was not even noticed, his passive murder of the woman happening without any response from any of them, though it was happening in full view of them all.

This is what is particularly awful about the one who knows to do good and refuses to do it. The great evil of this choice may not be evident to onlookers at all. This enables the person who makes such a choice to do it without any challenge (save that of the Holy Spirit, perhaps, and conscience, if both haven't fallen silent), embracing facile excuses for their wicked omission. And all the person has to do in making such a choice is nothing, which is why Christians are often so soft on this particular type of sin. They object to people who actively do evil - murderers, rapists, bank robbers, serial killers, etc. - not to people who do evil by simply doing nothing.

But the Christian leader - a pastor, perhaps - who knows he ought to evangelize the lost and teach his congregants to do so, and to disciple others, and to strongly foster prayer, and to preach the truth however much it offends his "flock," but who does none of these things is just as guilty of sin as the porn addict, or the gossip, or the liar. He may do other things instead, things that are more enjoyable to him, that play to his strengths, that only garner praise, things that are good, that are constructive and "Christian," and so obscure his sins of omission entirely. Those looking on just see a "smiling man walking his dog along the beach," not the murderer he really is.

The Christian layperson, too, may be guilty of knowing to do good and not doing it. They know they ought to invite the homeless man in church on Sunday morning to have some lunch. They know they ought to sit with their grieving friend and offer what comfort they can. They know they ought to spend time in study of God's word rather than sit idle in front of the t.v. night after night. But they don't. Like the man on the beach, they develop convenient excuses for their neglect of doing right, and walk on past what ought to be done, consoling themselves that doing nothing isn't anything like shooting someone with a gun, or selling drugs to children, or getting blind drunk and crashing your car into a pedestrian. Those are truly evil things, not simply refraining from right action.

So, how about you? Are you the sort of person James described? Are there right things you know to do and are not doing them? Friend, if there are, you sin and are cut off from joyful, life-changing fellowship with God, whatever you might feel or imagine about you and your Maker.

James 3:13
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

James 3:17-18
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

I'm reminded of the parable of the good Samaritan. The first two that refused to help were committing sin of omission as well. The question then that comes to mind is how would any of us respond if someone came to us bloodied and beaten asking for help from a group of attackers chasing after them? Or if someone was pounding on our front door screaming for help and you can see their attacker is right behind them.

 

[Whatever]

The Christian layperson, too, may be guilty of knowing to do good and not doing it.

We all do that all the time.
James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble

Every minute we waste on this forum we are sinning against all the widows or orphans all around us.
Same with watching TV.

Unless you live like Mother Theresa you are falling short. And I bet she even fell short.

 

[Tenchi]

We all do that all the time.
James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble

Every minute we waste on this forum we are sinning against all the widows or orphans all around us.
Same with watching TV.

I don't see that those verses call us to an every moment occupation with all widows and orphans in our area... We ought not to ignore them - and I don't - but this doesn't mean I must forego everything else in my life in order to see to their needs. And the verse you offered doesn't lay such a responsibility on us. It's...interesting, though, how you've mishandled the verse in order to make room for sins of omission. Telling, even (and not in a way that flatters you).

 

[jasonc]

Does this have any bearing on the situation?

It can but I know cops .if I was a cop if I'm off duty and I vistining you and I'm way out of my jurisdiction.unless it's life or limb I wouldn't respond to a crime . I might call it in but I wouldn't make an arrest .

Things that are legal in Florida but not necessarily in other states .
A driver without a ccl takes his gun and places it in a glove boxes .it's loaded and he simply carries it there for protection or is headed to the range.

In ny that isn't lawful at all. .