Christianity, in general, makes a big deal about sinning (although post-modern approaches are starting to deviate). If this religion were a book, all the words relating to sin would be bold and highlighted. After all, lest a Christian stumble, it will be evident to the other members of his puritan community that he is lacking in faith and is perhaps backsliding, moving farther from God. Thus, the rules, the "thou shalt not's", should be emphasized a great deal. Sometimes above all else.
However, the more I immerse myself in this sort of culture and familiarize myself with these sorts of people, these puritans of the modern day, the more I start to see just how little their faith in Christ really is.
Let me clarify just what I mean by "these sorts of people." Take Bible-thumping Bill, for instance. He'll sit in his room all day, reading the Bible and praying to God, while the rest of the world sinks in the abyss. Lest he fall into temptation and stumble, Bill should not go out into the world. He shall remain "pure and holy" before God, by staying in his house all day, or remaining a shiny but lifeless saint in a church, similar to a beautiful tiger stuffed and mounted by a taxidermist, or a wax doll.
He doesn't struggle with the sins emphasized by his puritan community -- no, he's too holy and too "spiritually up there." No, he doesn't struggle at all. And, I'll have to agree on this; I don't think it's possible to burn with lust after zebras and goats in a bestiality flick if you don't have a TV or a computer to begin with, and I don't think it's possible to commit adultery when you're not even married. Outwardly, at least.
Still, however, the question remains: does he struggle? Yes, he doesn't outwardly do the sins -- but does he wrestle with keeping his heart and mind clean from lusts of a hurtful sort? It doesn't matter if you don't outwardly do a sin if your heart wishes it.
Let's say for now, however, Bill doesn't think those sinful thoughts at all. Is he still struggling with them? And does this defiant act of holiness necessarily show a firm faith in God? Continuing to live the reclusive lifestyle that he does, I'd have to say no.
First of all, faith in Jesus Christ implies faith of the final result of any sinful deed and struggle being positive. The Book of Romans talks extensively about this, repeating this principle over and over again to the point of one's exclaiming "okay, I get it already!" If Bill truly believed that God will carry him through any misstep he makes after putting himself out there in the real world, and truly had faith that everything would work together for good in the end in spite of sin, and that the truth will prove itself in the end amongst other things, he would not be running away from the very thing that he's neurotically convinced himself he's conquered. He'd not be afraid to reach out to animal porn addicts, or seek out a love partner. Why? Because he knows that either he won't fall from grace, or that if he does mess up, the consequences of that sin won't have any power over him due to the power of Christ and his faith in that.
Hiding in a room all day isn't an active exercising of this faith, in my opinion.
Another way to look at it is this: suppose there is another man in his church named Bob. Bob struggles with both indulging in alcohol and occasionally getting in an affair with another woman not his wife. But he goes out to the homeless shelter every single week to give encouragement to those in need and to spend quality time with them.
Who is more fit for the kingdom: Bill or Bob? Bill doesn't sin remember, but neither does he do anything. Therefore, there is no kingdom advancement (at least one that's fully realized). Bob sins and screws up from time to time, but he infuses life to the souls who need it the most. He advances the kingdom.
The difference between Bob and Bill is their focus: Bill is focused on sin, Bob is focused on actually doing something and advancing the kingdom. And, lo and behold, he actually does advance it. Bill focuses on what he can't do -- and what do you know, he does nothing in the end. How ironic!
I feel like a whole flock of Bills have congregated under the steeples of disillusionment, and have amassed onto the grassy pastures of weak faith in this present day and age. They've formed "purity cults" amongst themselves -- organizations of devotees who've dedicated their lives to serving full-time the god of neurotic holiness, an idol of fear and denial gilded with the pseudo-precious metals of righteousness. They're not pure: they've just lied to themselves, that's all. Because if they really overcame their sins and their impurities, they'd definitely have an answer to those in the world who are still struggling with them.
Sitting in front of a blank wall in your room all day with a Bible in your lap isn't quite that convincing, oh thou of little faith.
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