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Why Sin Matters: The Surprising Relationship between Our Sin and God's Grace
2005 Gold Medallion Award finalist! A prophetic voice in a world where sin is explained away and grace is cheapened, Dr. Mark McMinn shows that only by reclaiming the language of sin will we be free to discover the power (and cost) of grace. While some people repeat the mantra “I'm OK, you're OK,” it is much wiser to conclude, “I'm a mess, you're a mess.” The good news is that, like the Prodigal Son, we aren't left standing at the pig trough. God sees us from a distance, runs to greet us, embraces us in love, and celebrates our arrival. The ballad of sin is not so much a dirge as it is a prelude to grace. Facing our sin ultimately ushers us into the presence of Grace, where we find forgiveness, mercy, hope, and celebration.
- GenresTheologyChristian Living
208 pages, Hardcover
Published April 1, 2004
3 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
Mark R. McMinn
26 books26 followersAfter a long academic career conducting research and teaching doctoral students in health service psychology, I now spend my time writing and growing fruit in rural Oregon.
I am married to Lisa Graham McMinn, an author, sociologist, and spiritual director. We have three grown daughters and six grandchildren.
I am married to Lisa Graham McMinn, an author, sociologist, and spiritual director. We have three grown daughters and six grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 11, 2014
I'm facing a conundrum. A friend of mine loaned me Why Sin Matters (2004) by Mark McMinn. I had forgotten it on my shelf for a while, but then I heard Larry Crabb mention it during a lecture he was giving and I took it down to read it. The conundrum is that even though this is a borrowed book, it was so good I am going to have to buy my own copy and I wonder if that is a good use of resources.
McMinn is a board certified clinical psychologist who is currently on faculty at George Fox University, though in this book he worked to integrate psychology, theology, and spirituality and in my opinion, he did so admirably.
From the front cover, one might imagine this is a book about sin. It is that, but to me, it was much more a book about grace. Through the book, McMinn explores the relationship between sin and grace. He (I believe rightly) made the point that "understanding grace cannot be done without understanding sin." Through real life examples as well as biblical reflections, particularly related to the story of the prodigal son, he helps the reader to see that we cannot minimize sin, nor can we minimize the awe of grace.
One concept that he explored is that humans are "noble ruins". We are God's image bearers, but we are infected by our sin. I suspect this is an idea that will continue to influence my thinking about personhood for some time to come. This is just one example of many wonderful things in this book.
It is not too much for me to say that I loved this book. I look forward to getting my own copy so that I can mark it up and think through sin and grace in more depth. If you are a fan of Brennan Manning, Larry Crabb, John Piper, or Tim Keller, this may be a good book for you. If you are a pastor, a counselor, or a psychologist, this may be a good book for you. If you are weary and downtrodden, this may be a great book for you too. Buy it now before I purchase my copy!
McMinn is a board certified clinical psychologist who is currently on faculty at George Fox University, though in this book he worked to integrate psychology, theology, and spirituality and in my opinion, he did so admirably.
From the front cover, one might imagine this is a book about sin. It is that, but to me, it was much more a book about grace. Through the book, McMinn explores the relationship between sin and grace. He (I believe rightly) made the point that "understanding grace cannot be done without understanding sin." Through real life examples as well as biblical reflections, particularly related to the story of the prodigal son, he helps the reader to see that we cannot minimize sin, nor can we minimize the awe of grace.
One concept that he explored is that humans are "noble ruins". We are God's image bearers, but we are infected by our sin. I suspect this is an idea that will continue to influence my thinking about personhood for some time to come. This is just one example of many wonderful things in this book.
It is not too much for me to say that I loved this book. I look forward to getting my own copy so that I can mark it up and think through sin and grace in more depth. If you are a fan of Brennan Manning, Larry Crabb, John Piper, or Tim Keller, this may be a good book for you. If you are a pastor, a counselor, or a psychologist, this may be a good book for you. If you are weary and downtrodden, this may be a great book for you too. Buy it now before I purchase my copy!
April 18, 2010
One of the best books I've ever read. This book deals with sin in a very grace-centered way, but all the while it is not neglecting the seriousness of sin. I'm going to go ahead and say that this book is a must-read for all Christians, and I do not say that about most books. McMinn writes with much grace and humility. An excellent, eye-opening book!
November 3, 2012
Excellent book. If there is one book to read it is this one. I really enjoyed this raw look at the subject of sin.
November 7, 2020
I love how this book goes through life with sin and the people are not scared to admit it and teaches us how to live our lives to the best we can and to always ask for forgiveness..
May 17, 2024
Every person on earth needs to read this book.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews