Sin and Brokenness

In the SBCVoices post “Yes, We're Worse Than Broken; But I Still Use the Term. Response to Randy Newman,” (July 13, 2011) Mike Leake defended the use of the term brokenness as appropriate in describing the human condition. Randy Newman, in his book Bringing the Gospel Home, said “the word doesn't go deep enough to move us forward in sanctification.” Leake responded, “I do continue to use the word. I continue to use the word for two primary reasons. First, I use it precisely because it actually does help me to explain a robust biblical theology and the multifaceted concept of sin.” He further stated, “Secondly, I use that word because people feel broken.”

I must agree with Mike Leake. Brokenness does help in our understanding of the consequences of sin. In a way, I agree as well with Randy Newman; brokenness does not go deep enough. If all we had was the term brokenness, we could not understand just how flawed and failed our condition is. We have, though, more than just the term brokenness. Interestingly, the word brokenness is not well-attested in Scripture. Only Jeremiah used the term in a manner close to how we employ the concept today (see Jer. 6.14; 8.11, 21). Jeremiah spoke of the “brokenness of My people,” and “the brokenness of the daughter of My people.” His charge was the wise men, prophets and priests were superficially healing the brokenness of Israel, but that healing would provide no peace. The word peace also means soundness or wholeness. The healing had no lasting effect.

Jeremiah got to the heart of the problem. Our sin is a deep and incurable illness. We cannot cure our condition. Anyone who offers a superficial solution for sin , or who makes sin itself a superficial problem, has been false and untruthful. God alone knows the depth of our sinful condition, and he alone has offered the only true healing for sin. Through the Cross, the Lord solved the problem of sin and made available the only real and lasting solution. In fact, the Cross underscores the depth of the sinful condition of human beings. Only a radical solution can heal a radical condition.

We can understand the nature of sin only by relying on the full range of biblical words used to describe the full nature of sin. The Bible uses the words iniquity, trespass, transgression, lawlessness, unrighteousness, wickedness, disobedience and evil to explain the depth of our failure. We are guilty of iniquity because we sin; we have trespassed the laws of God and transgressed them because we sin; we are guilty of unrighteous, wicked and evil behavior because we have sinned. We indeed are in a pitiable state if we have not received the forgiveness of our sin. We sin because we are broken, just as Jeremiah said Israel was broken. We are broken because something deep inside of us is not what it should be. We are broken because of the fall of Adam. We are broken because we are born into a broken world. We are broken because, when given the choice, we have failed to live up to God’s demand. All sin. None is righteous; none of us conforms to God’s expectations of us. We are both the victims of sin, and the guilty perpetrators of sin. We did not ask to be born into a sinful world. Yet, when given the choice, we all have chosen to disobey God.

We are indeed broken. We each need to be healed of that brokenness. “But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.” Jesus was pierced, crushed, chastened and scourged because of what we have done. Ultimately, he died in our place. So, through the horrible agony, mistreatment and death of Jesus, the Lord made possible the forgiveness, yes, the healing, of our brokenness. The seal of that transaction was his resurrection, because of which, we might walk in newness of life, broken no more.