Hamartiology (Hauerwas, The Kingdom of Peace, 30-35)We are the friends of the crucified, but we are also the crucifiers. We must be trained to see ourselves as sinners, not as obvious, so fundamental that we must be taught to recognize this. We cannot perceive it when we are trained by it. Sin does not have a universal tendency to be inhumane or immoral (although it implies that), we are sinners because we are mistaken about the nature of reality and would thus crucify the one who calls us to the kingdom of God. Discover true self-identity in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. God's story tells us that we are sinful, in relation to God like 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, slothfulness. . . It’s all that, very complex. Sin: To the extent that I refuse to be faithful to God's way, to live as a part of God's life, my life takes on the character of rebellion. Sin – not only overestimating our abilities, but exceeding our powers, authoring our own stories. Sin – Defying and refusing 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 then subjecting others to our will, this injustice is a sin. (Niebuhr)How it works for us.1. Conspire to make lies powerful by structuring them to achieve consensus.2. The “objectivity” of the majority allows those who differ to be accused of being immoral (not just bad).3. Then defend our positions as truth, but our sins/lies become the root and branch of violence. Learn to use the language of sin on ourselves, not just others! But don't be stuck there, called to be righteous and live the life made possible by God's redemption in the cross. Sin is not just a mistake or bad action, it is being evil or overreaching, its fundamental form is self-deception. Freedom as a possession or achievement, rather than a gift, is sin. Controlling everything and not trusting is a sin. Sin – fundamental self-orientation. Character - formed by the story that we must do everything (pride) or nothing (laziness) Do you see it as God does and we can have the freedom to move forward, God sees me as a sinner but there is always the grace.Nature of sinRelates to salvation – basically the good with the bad, then the bad is saved; corrupt and rebellious, then a transformation is necessary. Relates to ministry – encouraging one to do better, or repenting and being born again! Terms, causes of sin