sin is the lack of faith

What Satan put into the heads of our remote ancestors was the idea that they could 'be like gods' - could set up on their own as if they had created themselves - be their own masters - invent some sort of happiness for themselves outside God, apart from God. And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history - money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery - the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy. The reason why it can never succeed is this... God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.

-C.S. Lewis, "Mere Christianity"

For the longest time, I thought that sin means perversion from God's commands - perverted behavior. However, this text (which my soul cries out as "truth!") suggests that sin means deviation from faith - perverted heart. Sin is refusing to surrender to God and instead relying on ourselves to control our own lives. O, countless times have I done this daily - little and big decisions of mine due to my fear of the future, not faith. And this call to faith and worship is not a mere suggestion to make my life more comfortable - it is a command, and not surrendering is the very essence of sin.

Another shocking point is this lack of faith - sin - is the source of all human failures and sufferings. And the way to end suffering is to repent, have faith and return to God, because perfect happiness only exists in relationship with God, and outside God there is no happiness for man. Thus God is commanding man to have faith in him because it is the only way man can earn happiness.

This changes my perspective about God. God is not a heartless judge requesting his creations to obey his commands, pointing fingers at people who fail to meet his requirements, calling them sinners, and punishing them. God is a loving creator knowing what is best for his creations, and all his rules are based on his love for us. He only commanded us to surrender to him as God because it's for our own good.

"My happiness is found in less of me and more of you" -Shane and Shane, "The Answer"