Do you call yourself a sinner?

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

I walked into a church a few weeks ago where I was featured as a speaker to talk about Compassion International urging the audience to consider sponsoring a child for Jesus.

Before I talked, they began to sing a song that said something like, "let all the sinners sing ..." The premise behind the song was that everyone at the service is a sinner and they were celebrating the grace of God. Something about that song really bothered me. It was as if they were celebrating that they were proud holders of a get-out-of-jail card. Meaning, some could live like hell but come into church to feel better about themselves.

I think this attitude really misses the mark of Christianity. The Apostle Peter put it very well in 1 Peter 4:1-4:

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you.

He goes on to give us a pretty good picture what life as a Christian should look like (verse 7-11):

• Be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.
• Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
• Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling
• One should use whatever gift he has received to serve others
• If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.
• If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides

Now that I read these bullet points, perhaps I see the reason for a church deciding to sing such a song. When I read these bullet points over again I realize that many in the church may have a hard time relating to this.

I like 1 Peter 4:3-5 in the Message version because it gives it good context of our modern times:

You've already put in your time in that God-ignorant way of life, partying night after night, a drunken and profligate life. Now it's time to be done with it for good. Of course, your old friends don't understand why you don't join in with the old gang anymore. But you don't have to give an account to them. They're the ones who will be called on the carpet—and before God himself.

Do you call yourself a sinner? Perhaps you are confessing that you are still living a God-ignorant way of life?

Let the blood of Jesus purify you from all sin as you can walk in his light as a saint, not a sinner.