The following blog entry is part 3 in a series of blog posts entitled “A Fight Worth Picking,” in which I’m writing about John’s Owen’s Biblical principles for fighting sin in ‘The Mortification of Sin.’ I’ll be referencing Banner of Truth’s 2004 edition, abridged by Richard Rushing.(If you’d like a detailed outline of Owen’s work, click here.)
In March of 2000 I became a youth pastor. No longer was I a bush league college-student-volunteer. I was a bona fide, getting paid, name on a door, business card youth pastor. Bam. That said, the job was not what I expected. I was looking forward to eating red vines, playing games, going to concerts, sleeping in, and other various ministries. But this job required much more thinking and standing than I anticipated. Consequently, my misconceptions led to some early frustrations.
When it comes to the mortification of sin, there are many misconceptions that, if left uncorrected, will lead to frustration. Owen lists five things mortification is not:
1. Mortifying sin is not rooting it out and destroying it. If we think that we’re embarking on a process that is going to destroy our sin and leave us spotless (in this lifetime) we’re setting ourselves up for disappointment. Even Paul admits in Philippians 3:12 that he is not yet perfect and is pressing on. Mortification is not a quick-fix.
2. Mortifying sin is not changing the outward aspects of a sin. The jealous husband who brags that he has mortified his anger while he sips his fifth glass of Johnny Walker has not actually mortified his sin. He has merely exchanged outbursts of anger for excessive alcohol consumption (also a sin). Only the outward aspects of the jealousy have thus been changed, and that is not true mortification.
3. Mortifying sin is not just improving our outward behavior or nature. Mortifying sin goes after the root of our sinfulness, not just the fruit. It’s one thing to change the way we act in public and look less sinful. It’s another to change the way we are in private and mortify our sin. Besides, as Owen points out, some people naturally “appear” less sinful - they are quiet and nice and Fireproofy. (But inside they may be a sinful mess)...
“Someone may not have so much trouble all his life, perhaps with anger and passion, as others, and yet not advance as far in true mortification. Our natural tempers are not a good test for true mortification. Let those with gentle natural temperaments consider the need for self-denial, or such spiritual sins as unbelief and envy, to get a better view of their true selves” (page 28).
4. Mortifying sin is not merely diverting sin, or exchanging one sin for another. Owen points out that “Simon Magus left his sorceries for a while, but then he turned to covetousness and ambition (Acts 8)” (page 28).
5. Mortifying sin is not temporary holiness following a great conviction or affliction. A good stretch of holiness after re-dedicating our life at junior high camp (conviction), or a good stretch of holiness after a painful season of life (affliction) is not necessarily the mortification of our sin. The book of Judges is full of this – People who were convicted and afflicted who then seemingly turned to God and away from their sin. But in the end, it proved temporary. Psalm 78:32-37 describes this:
Psalm 78:32-37
In spite of all this, they still sinned;
despite his wonders, they did not believe.
33So he made their days vanish like a breath,
and their years in terror.
34When he killed them, they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly.
35They remembered that God was their rock,
the Most High God their redeemer.
36But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues.
37Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant.
This is very hard stuff. Wow.
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