In the wake of political divides with “religion” at the center, in light of anti-Christian racial tensions, and the lingering effects of the pandemic, the modern church finds itself at a crossroads.
From evangelical factions that endorse political figures like Drumpf, to the erosion of the Black church and other church communities, a disconnect persists—one that seems to inhibit genuine spiritual growth and connection.
Polls and surveys increasingly reveal that many people experience the church as a place of judgment rather than compassion, alienating those seeking healing and acceptance.
The traditional doctrine, emphasizing humanity’s inherent “sin nature” and unworthiness before God, can often reinforce feelings of shame rather than guiding believers toward transformation. This focus on sin as inherent wrongdoing leaves people struggling with guilt rather than inspired to honor their own worth and potential.
We are awakening however to the idea that self-worth plays a crucial role in what we manifest in our lives. We are beginning to recognize that seeing ourselves as worthy—capable of embodying divine qualities—has the profound power to sustain healthier, stronger, longer lasting relationships with God and ourselves, generating true spiritual wholeness.
This perspective raises a timely question: What if our deepest “sins” are not the behaviors often preached against but rather the experience of feeling separate from God?
If, instead of condemning human nature as fundamentally flawed, the church taught us to recognize the divine within ourselves, we could help reduce the very behaviors we aim to prevent.
Many spiritual teachers and scholars have taught that sin can be understood less through isolated acts of wrongdoing—like fornication, queer expression or “idolatry”—and more as the experience of a perceived separation from God.
When this separation remains unhealed, we are less likely to love or see deep value in ourselves. Thus we are more likely to engage in actions that harm us, not because of rules or doctrine, but because we are out of touch with our innate value in—and connection to—the divine.
By assessing sin as a separation from God, rather than some inherent unworthy nature within us, we may break many Christians free from the cycle of sin-repentance-salvation that currently dominates in the church.
A shift toward making believers feel worthy and helping us understand our inherent divinity could inspire self-respect and restraint—not out of fear but out of a deep understanding of our own sacred nature.
The below insights come from pastors, scholars, and spiritual thinkers who encourage this reframing of sin—not as inherent depravity but as a forgetfulness of our divine origin. They emphasize that healing our sense of separation from God will enable us to embody our highest potential, living in ways that honor our bodies, minds, and spirits as reflections of God within us.
By reconnecting with this divine essence, we are far less likely to engage in self-harming or “sinful” actions. This inquiry calls us to ask: How might the church evolve to support people in cultivating a consistent awareness of their oneness with God, making choices that naturally align with divine love, purpose, and truth?
Theologians & Thinkers
1. C.S. Lewis: Known for his explorations of faith and human nature, C.S. Lewis described sin as a kind of “bentness” or “twistedness”—a state of being out of alignment with God. In Mere Christianity, Lewis interpreted sin as a form of “falling short” or misalignment with God’s nature, not as an intrinsic flaw but as a condition we can overcome by realigning ourselves with God’s love and purpose.
• Scripture: Romans 3:23 (KJV) – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
• Interpretation: Lewis saw this “coming short” as a state that can be healed through humility and reconnection with God’s will. Sin, for Lewis, is simply the condition of being “bent” away from God’s divine image, a state that can be corrected by embracing a life rooted in humility and divine alignment.
2. Richard Rohr: A Franciscan priest and spiritual teacher, Richard Rohr emphasizes that sin is often a state of forgetting or denying our “true self,” the part of us that is always connected to God. In The Universal Christ, Rohr describes sin as an illusion of separation from the divine, advocating for a return to our innate unity with God through compassion and self-awareness.
• Scripture: Genesis 1:27 (KJV) – “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him.”
• Interpretation: Rohr uses this scripture to argue that sin is a failure to recognize the divine image within ourselves. When we see ourselves as separate from God, we lose sight of our spiritual potential. Recognizing this unity helps us transcend feelings of guilt and live in harmony with our divine identity.
3. Thomas Merton: As a Trappist monk and contemplative, Thomas Merton focused on inner transformation and the quest to discover one’s true identity in God. In New Seeds of Contemplation, Merton proposed that sin occurs when we forget or fail to recognize our divine origin and identity, acting instead from a place of separation or ego.
• Scripture: 1 John 3:1 (KJV) – “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.”
• Interpretation: Merton interpreted this verse as a reminder that we are beloved children of God. For him, sin is simply the result of forgetting this truth. Rediscovering our divine identity allows us to move beyond ego-driven actions and embrace a life rooted in love and self-acceptance.
4. Howard Thurman: Theologian and civil rights leader Howard Thurman saw sin as a form of alienation from one’s true self and from God. In Jesus and the Disinherited, Thurman argued that people often act out of alignment with divine will when they lack a sense of self-worth or fail to see themselves as beloved by God. For him, sin is the result of this disconnect, and healing involves reclaiming one’s inherent worth.
• Scripture: Psalm 139:14 (KJV) – “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
• Interpretation: Thurman connected this scripture to his belief that sin stems from a lack of self-acceptance. By recognizing ourselves as “wonderfully made,” we restore our alignment with God’s love, empowering us to act from a place of divine connection rather than fear or self-doubt.
5. Paul Tillich: Renowned theologian Paul Tillich described sin as “estrangement” from God’s love and our own true selves. In The Courage to Be, Tillich argued that sin is less about specific actions and more about the feeling of separation from divine love. He taught that faith bridges this perceived gap, helping us reclaim our wholeness in God.
• Scripture: Romans 8:38-39 (KJV) – “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life… shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
• Interpretation: Tillich used this passage to emphasize that God’s love is unbreakable. He believed that sin, or estrangement, is a state of disconnection that can be healed through faith and acceptance of God’s constant love. For Tillich, reconnecting with this love restores our true, divine identity.
6. A.W. Tozer: Known for his writings on spiritual intimacy, A.W. Tozer argued that sin often results from ignorance of God’s greatness and our place within His plan. In The Knowledge of the Holy, Tozer suggested that sin stems from a lack of awareness of God’s nature and our inherent worth, urging believers to seek a deeper knowledge of God to overcome this disconnection.
• Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) – “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
• Interpretation: Tozer saw this transformation as a result of understanding our identity in Christ. By knowing God deeply, he believed, we shed old patterns of ignorance and sin, becoming new creations in alignment with divine purpose and self-worth.
Each of these thinkers redefines sin as a condition of separation, forgetfulness, or estrangement from God rather than inherent depravity. By realigning with our divine identity, we can heal this separation and live more fully in our true nature as children of God. Through this lens, sin becomes less a source of condemnation and more an invitation to reconnect with the divine within, embracing a path of wholeness, purpose, and inner peace.