2. Johnny Chang – Original sin is a thing, but so is sin in thought, word and deed
I’ve a few of Johnny Chang’s interviews now and have heard the phrase that is something to the effect of “Sin is not an action, it is an identity”. The last interview of his I listened to, was on the George Janko show, which compelled me to address this topic.
Link to the video here.
I’ll be putting a few quotes straight from the video here so bear with me as it may feel a little choppy at first.
At about 20:27 of the video, Johnny seems to be recounting a Good News Mission pastor asking him two things “Are you a sinner?” and “Do you know what sin is?”
Johnny replied “Yes” “Sin is doing evil things”
While the pastor says, “Not so”.
And explains original sin being inherited. Which is a truth, but only a part of the whole story, which you will find I think in many of his and Good News Missions teachings.
At 23:30, Romans 5:12 is brought up…but not in entirety, I’ll quote it here.
“ Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—" (emphasis added)
At 24:24 “Pastor was telling me that sin is not an action, it’s an identity, you’re born that way. “
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And this seems to be what Johnny teaches. So, the thing is. Johnny is teaching about people having a sin nature. Original sin, the nature you have before you are born again as a Christian and will fight against through the power of the Holy Spirit for your whole life as a Christian (see Romans 7).
So sin nature is one thing, and the committing of sin is another thing. Our sinning – in thought, word, deed is a result of that sin nature. It comes out of that sin nature. Everyone acts according to their nature.
This topic has me thinking of the Westminster’s Shorter Catechism and Children’s catechism regarding the questions of sin here and here.
I have the app “Reformed Companion” which gives a few more scripture references.
Question 28, “What is sin?
Answer: Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of the law of God.
References:
Romans 14:23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
1 John 3:4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.
And the questions following in the catechisms go over sin and its effects.
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Now I’ll say my first GNM pastor did not teach that sin is only an identity; and I believe that is poor wording, which is part of what makes things so muddled. I clearly remember my first GNM pastor making a point that we inherited our sin nature from Adam, which was enough to condemn us; so even if we never sinned, and he said, something to the effect of, of course we do, yet our sin nature would have been enough to send us to hell. Which is indeed true.
I’m putting this out there to say that Pastor Kim whom Johnny speaks of is one pastor in Good News Mission and others may explain it differently.
I believe an example used quite a bit in Good News Mission was the examples of types of trees. If you’re a “sin tree” you are going to be producing sin. Which I believe they would be quoting Matthew 7:16, and here is the whole thing in context:
“15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
Now before I get accused of works based righteousness, the point is if your nature is changed, the fruit is good things. The works, are not the “root” but the “fruit” of God changing you (Ephesians 2:8-10, 2 Corinthians 5:17-19, Titus 2:14).
It’s a very strange predicament or dissonance that is put on people in GNM and perhaps also Johnny’s followers. This idea of wanting progress etc. and to do well and do better…well, what are you wanting to do less of then? Sin…not sin? What is it? It’s lots of having to talk around things or points that might make sense, but don’t completely harmonize that leave people vacillating back and forth.
Here's just one more example I will point out, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 10:16-17, NKJV).
Which is quoted from Jeremiah 33:34 in the Old Testament. Clearly God is forgiving actions of people, whom, as I read it, are those whom He has made born again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible (1 Peter 1:23).
Now there are many other ways this could branch off on different topics, but I hope for it to at least be a starting off point in some ways for Johnny’s followers. I have done other blog posts that are related to God’s law and so forth. I’d perhaps encourage a word study, looking through the Bible, reading the various books of the Bible and seeing how sin is described. You may be surprised by what pops out at you, and I pray the Holy Spirit illuminates your mind.
12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. 17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) (Romans 5:12-17)