The Besetting Sins Lament with St. Paul (and Anne and Mrs. Allan): Part Two in a series

By Mary Abrahamson

“Ruby Gillis thinks of nothing but beaus,” said Anne disdainfully. “She’s actually delighted when anyone writes her name up in a take-notice for all she pretends to be so mad. But I’m afraid that is an uncharitable speech. Mrs. Allan says we should never make uncharitable speeches; but they do slip out so often before you think, don’t they? I simply can’t talk about Josie Pye without making an uncharitable speech, so I never mention her at all. You may have noticed that. I’m trying to be as much like Mrs. Allan as I possibly can, for I think she’s perfect. Mr. Allan thinks so too. Mrs. Lynde says he just worships the ground she treads on and she doesn’t really think it right for a minister to set his affections so much on a mortal being. But then, Diana, even ministers are human and have their besetting sins just like everybody else. I had such an interesting talk with Mrs. Allan about besetting sins last Sunday afternoon. There are just a few things it’s proper to talk about on Sundays and that is one of them. My besetting sin is imagining too much and forgetting my duties. I’m striving very hard to overcome it and now that I’m really thirteen perhaps I’ll get on better.” Anne of Green Gables, Ch. 26

Oh, Anne, …. I agree. Uncharitable speeches do slip out. Along with all our other besetting sins. SKL author and editor, Holly wrote the other day about pet sins, so I thought this was a good time to use this paragraph.

There is so much in classical literature and classical morality to love. I love the quaint term, besetting sins. I love the ethics or morality that is portrayed. This morality was the mainstream expectation during much of the last 200 years.

But again we see the subtle mixing of true Christianity with morality. In this excerpt we see a few of those man-made ideals that so easily place themselves on par with God’s Law. Anne says that Mrs. Rachel Lynde is of the opinion that Mr. Allan’s regard for his wife is too high to be proper. Anne calls this his besetting sins. She also refers to “things it’s proper to talk about on Sundays.”

But what I noticed even more than that is Anne’s aspiration to overcome sin. As do we, she focused on her own fervent striving. And she also hoped for an easier time of it on account of her maturing process.

If only it was that easy! I am reminded here of St. Paul, in Romans 7:

For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. Romans 7:14

We know that God’s Law is good. Something toward which to strive. But we are doomed to failure. Original Sin.

For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. Romans 7:15

Again, Original Sin. We simply can’t be good.

So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. Romans 7:18

Another acknowledgment of the Original Sin that so permeates us.

For the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. Romans 7:19

Wanting to behave rightly, and trying very hard… it will never be good enough.

For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Romans 7:21

We arrive at the crux of the matter. This is the point at which all morality lessons and goals fall short. Who can do it? Where is the answer?

We exclaim together joyfully with St. Paul,

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 7:25

Photo Credit to Andy Arthur. Some rights reserved.