FROM THE PULPIT: THERE IS NOTHING NEW

Dr. Karl Menninger, M.D., wrote a very fine book in 1973: "Whatever Became of Sin?" In this work he notes that the very word "sin" seems to have disappeared, despite its long history as a strong and proud word.

In 1953, President Eisenhower made his first proclamation for a national day of prayer (Truman inaugurated this congressional mandate in 1952) in which he quoted Abraham Lincoln:

"It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon."

Menninger, quoting from an article by Frederick Fox of Princeton University, then points out that none of Eisenhower's subsequent calls to prayer mentioned sin again. In fact, since that 1953 quotation from Lincoln, no president, Kennedy, Johnson nor Nixon, has mentioned sin as a national failing.

I do not know if any other president after Nixon ever mentioned sin as a national or personal failing. Perhaps Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush or Clinton did use the word "sin." I really don't know. What I'm concerned about is today. And quite frankly we need to return the word "sin" to our vocabulary.

It concerns me when a news commentator refers to the alleged actions of our current president as those of a "big rogue" who means no harm.

It concerns me when Billy Graham implies that what the president did (perhaps Mr. Graham knows something we don't) is understandable because his good looks drive women wild.

It concerns me when buffalo-Jerry Spence tries to tell us that there is a difference between a gentleman's lie and a plain out-right lie.

According to Spence it's okay to lie to protect your wife or daughter from embarrassment.

It concerns me when Bill Moyers and son are now on a national campaign to convince us that all drug and alcohol addiction is a disease. Whatever became of "Sin?"

There is nothing new. David tried to lie to cover up his sins, but God's prophet, Nathan, was dispatched to bring him back to his senses.

What we need in America is a good Nathan or two to point us back to genuine repentance, which is the only path that will lead us as a nation or as individuals to mercy and pardon.

When one stands before the judgment bar of God someday, all the "spin doctors" in the world will not be able to remove "sin" from the vocabulary of judgment.