Those who have an accounting background must have learnt that the errors in accounting are classified broadly as errors of commission and errors of omission. Similarly, sins could also be categorized as sins of Commission which is doing something wrong and sins of Omission which is not doing something ought to have been done.
Now let us see how Bible perceives the sins of Omission. Luke 16;19 to 31 Jesus gives the story of a rich man and Lazarus. I see in this rich man many good qualities. He allowed a poor man with sores to remain at his gate and allowed him to eat the scraps fallen from his table, and even when he knows there is no escape from his terrible sufferings in the hell, he is very keen to save his brothers and to send them to heaven. Incredibly noble qualities hardly seen in even faithful people these days! And he did no harm to the poor man.
In spite of these noble qualities he is in hell, why? His offence was he did not do what he was able to do; this is the sin of Omission. This is what Apostle James warns in Chap 4:17 ‘’ if you don’t do what you know is right, you have sinned.” People, especially ‘good’ or faithful or holy men tend to think they are ok or sinless, by not engaging proactively in committing an offence. But in God’s view it is no lesser sin. James 2: 16 if … you say, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? It is faith that does not produce actions or bear fruits. (James 2:20) We are not expected to be lethargic towards injustices and afflictions seen in society, God expects us to react and it is our bounden duty to do what is possible at our level. Let us see a few more cases in Bible.
Genesis 14:14 to 16 we see that when Abram heard that his relative, Lot, had been taken captive, he could not sit quiet. Abram along with his men went in pursuit of Lot’s enemies and attacked and routed them, brought back Lot and his possessions.
Exodus 2:12 We see a Moses who could not keep unmoved when he saw an Hebrew man was attacked by an Egyptian, he killed the Egyptian to save his man. In Job chap 29, we find a Job who was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame, did not hesitate to even smash the fangs of the wicked to snatch the victims from the teeth of wicked, even if the victims were strangers. This is the spirit or a burning of one who has righteousness in his heart.
In Luke 10: 25-37 Jesus tell the story of a Good Samaritan which is extensively preached by our preachers. A Priest and a Levites happened to see on the road a man, half-dead, bruised and stripped of his cloths, looked at him and hurried to pass by on the other side but a Samaritan, an outcast in the eyes of Jews and their leaders, had the heart to show mercy on him, to spend his own resources and time to take good care of him. Here in God’s eye, the thieves who committed the sin of marauding and wounding an innocent and the hard-hearted priests and Levite who refused to do the needful are not much different.
Not only committing injustice but tolerating injustice is equally sinful. That is what the church in Thyatira is warned in Revelation 2: 20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, a woman representing all the malevolence qualities….’’
Christians and Christian leaders have a divine responsibility not only to be fair and just in their conduct but also to have the sensitivity to react to situations of inequities, unfairness and affliction that we come across. But sadly these days, we witness a cruel callousness on the part of leaders in many issues currently plaguing the church.
The injustice and unfairness and deceptions used against Marthomites of Kuwait Church is now no more hidden to most of the clergy and members of synod and others in decision making bodies but still they maintain a merciless apathy to raise their voice. They probably don’t want to attract someone’s ire whom they fear a lot more than God or don’t want to be in hit-lists. 1Peter 3:14 reminds them ‘’ even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats[b]; do not be frightened.” I wish church leaders listen to the appeal of Apostle Peter to them in 1Peter 5:1 to4, 31 ‘’ I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings… 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—… , as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away’’
The injustice and unfairness and deceptions used against Marthomites of Kuwait Church is now no more hidden to most of the clergy and members of synod and others in decision making bodies but still they maintain a merciless apathy to raise their voice. They probably don’t want to attract someone’s ire whom they fear a lot more than God or don’t want to be in hit-lists. 1Peter 3:14 reminds them ‘’ even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats[b]; do not be frightened.” I wish church leaders listen to the appeal of Apostle Peter to them in 1Peter 5:1 to4, 31 ‘’ I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings… 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—… , as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away’’
Many of today’s problems of church would not have arisen or could have been solved soon, if those in authority had shown the nerve to stand up firm to side with what is right and tell a spade a spade on face of those who orchestrate and execute the sins. No church can grow; never will the Lord allow it to happen, by false reports and dubious schemes. Those who truly love the church, those who believe in a God who loves truth and justice, should exhibit the mettle to stand up against the ungodly traits of arm-twisting tactics and insolence egoism and an out-and-out spiritual sloth.
Bible does not teach us to remain soundless spectators at falsehood and injustices, those who fail to resort to reason this truth is sharing a collective responsibility of the sinful actions. In creating Kuwait Church fiasco, the people who proactively took part in committing this sin are now exposed to a larger segment of church but others in synod, mandalam , clergy etc who remain mute can’t exonerate themselves from the serious sin of omission, by allowing an act sin to prolong . Holy Spirit is not a spirit of fear and His Spirit will not lead us to be deaf and dump. The voice of Mordecai, still echoes in the air, “. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, ……”
Esther, a young girl , who had too much to lose including her own life, had the ears to listen and wisdom to understand to rise up to the occasion to become a blessed tool in the hands of God. Do our leaders have the ears to hear this thunderous voice still echoing in the air? Truth and Justice stand brutally bruised and slaughtered in Kuwait Marthoma Church issue or other issues and if the leaders who know the truth continue to live in coldhearted insensitivity and indolence , they are perpetuating a serious sin of omission and placing yourselves in place of the rich man, the priest and the Levites in the stories , and the one who tolerate Jezebels to meet their own ignominy and there is no use shedding crocodile tears and blaming others.
Bible does not teach us to remain soundless spectators at falsehood and injustices, those who fail to resort to reason this truth is sharing a collective responsibility of the sinful actions. In creating Kuwait Church fiasco, the people who proactively took part in committing this sin are now exposed to a larger segment of church but others in synod, mandalam , clergy etc who remain mute can’t exonerate themselves from the serious sin of omission, by allowing an act sin to prolong . Holy Spirit is not a spirit of fear and His Spirit will not lead us to be deaf and dump. The voice of Mordecai, still echoes in the air, “. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, ……”
Esther, a young girl , who had too much to lose including her own life, had the ears to listen and wisdom to understand to rise up to the occasion to become a blessed tool in the hands of God. Do our leaders have the ears to hear this thunderous voice still echoing in the air? Truth and Justice stand brutally bruised and slaughtered in Kuwait Marthoma Church issue or other issues and if the leaders who know the truth continue to live in coldhearted insensitivity and indolence , they are perpetuating a serious sin of omission and placing yourselves in place of the rich man, the priest and the Levites in the stories , and the one who tolerate Jezebels to meet their own ignominy and there is no use shedding crocodile tears and blaming others.
Sajan