Joyless Sinning

E. Stanley Jones was a missionary, a theologian, and a prolific writer. In his devotional book titled In Christ he shows how many Christians still live under a sense of condemnation even though there is "no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus":

"If 'there is . . . no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,' why do so many inside the church still go around bowed under inner condemnation?

"For one reason, it is taught in some Christian circles that to acknowledge this inner condemnation is a sign of Christian humility. One leading churchman said, 'The people outside the churches are unforgiven sinners and the people inside are forgiven sinners.' Then they are both sinners and, as such, under condemnation. That kind of Christianity fits this description: 'Just enough religion, not to keep one from sinning, but enough to take the joy out of it.' So the ordinary church member goes on with joyless sinning. He calls it humility, but it is really a humiliation of the Redeemer, for if He doesn't save us from sin He doesn't save us from anything--including hell, for sin is hell begun.

"In the communion ritual of The Methodist Church, after the prayers of confession and acceptance of forgiveness and the partaking of the communion, there is this prayer, 'God have mercy on us, Christ have mercy on us, Christ have mercy on us.' As if nothing had happened! We go away still crying for mercy, our piety a guilt-ridden piety. Where is the note of the authentic evangelical movement?

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light:
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

No condemnation now I dread.

"A layman in Norway, a follower of the gloriously converted layman, Haug, was turned away on a rainy night from a farm-house. As he went away he said, 'It's wonderful to have the peace of God in the heart at this time of night.' The farmer couldn't sleep, got up, ran after him, brought him back, and was converted."