[317 words]
Stephen doesn’t feel disgust. Ever.
After years of attempting to find a reason for his lack of ability to feel emotions, Stephen’s doctors finally diagnosed him with a little-known condition called alexithymia. People who fit into this category are unable to feel excitement, shame, disgust, anticipation, or even love.
One might think that having this condition would be a benefit, but for Stephen, it has been nothing but a curse. He’s experienced two failed marriages due to his inability to feel and share various emotions with his spouse (Mosaicscience.com, May 28, 2018).
Almost all humans have the God-given ability to feel disgust. One study showed that the most disgusting thing participants encountered was infected, open wounds (Atlantic Journal Constitution, June 5, 2018).
While one would readily agree that the world is filled with disgusting things, the filthiness of sin should top the list.
It seems that most people in the world don’t comprehend how disgusting sin actually is. While most people have the ability to understand that sin is bad, it’s imperative that we understand how spiritually disgusting it actually is.
Here are some problems faced by those who don’t comprehend the filthiness of sin.
They won’t understand how disgusting sin is to God. We read in Proverbs 15:9 that the way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord. David stated in Psalm 5:4 that God does not delight in wickedness. It’s vitally important that we understand how God feels about sin.
They won’t understand the consequences of sin. Romans 6:3 gives the sobering warning that the wages of sin is death. No matter how people see sin, evil is still evil (Isaiah 5:20).
They won’t be motivated to be cleansed from the filthiness of sin. We’re instructed in James 1:21 to put away all filthiness and wickedness.
The most disgusting thing in the world is sin!
Troy Albers
Graeber Road church of Christ
Rosenberg, TX