I have heard several people in church misquoting James 5:20 as meaning that a person’s sins will be “covered” if they convert another person. I think this is a gross misinterpretation of that scripture.
The confusion comes in whose sins are referenced and how those sins will be covered. The scripture says, “He that converteth the sinner from the error of his way...” This clearly means that because of the conversion you have taken the sinner off a path filled with inevitable future sins and put him on a different path that does not include those sins. By so doing you, “Shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” It is the sins of the converted person being covered not those of the missionary.
1 Peter 4:8 says that, “Charity shall cover a multitude of sins.” Are we to assume then that everyone who practices charity is also exempt from repentance? If this was true, we would have little need for a savior; we could simply save ourselves through missionary work and charitable acts. It seems much more logical that the reference in both scriptures is about changing the paths we and others are on and thereby eradicating or “cover[ing]” future sins.
There is nothing more sacred in the gospel than the process of repentance. It involves God’s own perfect Son suffering unimaginable pain and ultimately dying on the cross so that we may repent. To say that there is some other way to remove past sin than through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ is blasphemous.
Helaman 5:9
…yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come…
(see also Mosiah 3:17 and Alma 38:9)
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This was very interesting. I think I have heard people say that before, and you make a good point that it is misquoted/misinterpreted. As usual, great post!
ReplyDeleteIt does seem as though satan is always trying to introduce new ways to deceive the members of the church. I would like to add that the saving a person or doing charity not only “covereth a multitude of sins” that they would would have committed, but I believe that it also changes us for the better. Meaning that we are now more resistant to sin by becoming more like God. (See Moses 1:39)
ReplyDeleteAnother one that drives me crazy that is popular in the church is the praying for trials. This particular one bugs me because it shows a lack of understanding the gospel, and our relationship with God. By telling God that He is not doing a good job of testing you as a member of the church and you’d like Him to turn up the trial-o-meter a few notches to bank a little bit more reward in heaven for the next couple of months is...well, just silly.
Satan will oppose you if you are doing what is right. Trials by themselves do not make you a better person, nor guarantee you a better place in heaven. Faithfulness, repentance, and humility are much better solutions. I promise you that if you are doing the right thing satan will oppose you.
So one has to ask then, is it a matter of pride that makes one ask such a thing of God? I believe so. You are asking God to impose trials on you and you alone because you are tough enough to take more than He originally planned. That you deserve more of a reward than God has deemed as your lot.
There is a much better solution. If God has blessed you enough that you feel you aren not truly being tested in this life, try using the gifts he has blessed you with and use them to bless the lives of others. By stepping up the tempo of your religious life you not only will be happier, bless the lives of those around you, but satan will also step up his campaign against you.