the sin surveys

glimpses into the normal Christian life

An overview

Some sample responses from all of the surveys.

See also, some complete responses from a sample of people.

1. How long have you been sinning for?

3 of the respondents answered 15-20 years, 8 were 20-25 years, 1 was 35-40, 2 were 40-45, and 2 said "a long time".

2. How long has it been since you first acknowledged your sin and trusted in Jesus death on your behalf?

There was a range of 10 months to 27 years among the respondents.

3. Do you feel as though you have made progress since you first trusted Jesus?

14 said yes, 2 said no.

4. How do you feel about the progress/lack of progress you have made so far?

“It's amazing to hear people say that they have seen you grow, when sometimes all you can think about is how you fail to live your life as Christ calls you to.”
“encouraged by God's patience with me”
“I think the more you analyse yourself, the more sinful you realise you are.”
“Proud of Christ who makes me want to do good for him, especially when I'm so bad.”
“The Christian life is a journey with a glorious end.”

5. How do you go about trying to stop sinning?

“Not very well. There is no substitute to spending time with God, both in the bible and in prayer.”
“Try not to think about it”
“Read the bible lots, close Christian friendships. pray!”
“Asking God to change me, through his Holy Spirit”
“Go to sleep, but even that doesn't work.”
“Remember Jesus who has done so much for me to save me from my sins. This gives me more perspective than whatever situation I may be in at the time.”

6a. Do you believe that you can ever stop sinning in this life?

Only one respondant said yes, and answered the next question like this:
“Three nights ago, there was a point at 3:02 am where I am sure I didn't sin for 3 seconds.”

6b. If so, what reason do you have to believe this? [The intention of this question was for those who do believe that it is possible to stop sinning to give their reason. Some people understood the question to be asking “why or why not?” which is a better question.]

“My view of the argument in 1 Jn suggest that Christians will not be able to attain perfection in this life—also Paul in Romans says that although he is no longer a slave to sin, he still struggles with sin.”
“Because I can't”
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us”

6c. If not, why do you bother trying?

“Because of Jesus' love, and command for us to live our life for him.”
“I want to please God, and model to others the love/hope that he has shown me”
“Phillipians 3:14: I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
“Because it's what I have been saved to do and because I want to, or I should want to.”
“Because God is a holy God, and I want to be like him”
“Because the other option is to continue to hurt the God who loves me and gave me life. What kind of option is that?”

7. What encourages you to keep trying to live a holy life?

“The awesome LOVE displayed to us in the death of Christ. Seeing Christ's love and Godliness exhibited in friends.”
“Knowing that what God wants and our of sheer thankfulness for what he's done for in Jesus”
“The Cross of Christ...
The Grace of God...
The Spirit at work through the Scriptures...
The forgiveness we have in Jesus.”
“Knowing that we all struggle with sin. Knowing that Jesus understands my struggles, and that he loves me anyway.”

Some individual responses

Some complete responses for a sample of people.

How long have you been sinning for: 35-40 years
How long has it been since you first acknowledged your sin and trusted in Jesus: 22 years
Do you feel as though you have made progress since you first trusted Jesus: yes
How do you feel about the progress you have made so far: Objectively, I know have made progress. Subjectively, I am only the more aware of how rotten I am.
How do you go about trying to stop sinning:
1. Run away wherever possible.
2. Pray.
3. Work hard at it.
4. Keep having my mind transformed (through Bible and prayer)
Do you believe that you can ever stop sinning in this life: no
If not, why do you bother trying: Same reason I try to avoid getting sick—sin is miserable and counterproductive and always makes me wish I was somewhere else.
What encourages you to keep trying to live a holy life:
1. The future hope of glory.
2. The death of Jesus on my behalf for sin.
3. God's presence with me through his word and Spirit.

How long have you been sinning for: 20-25 years
How long has it been since you first acknowledged your sin and trusted in Jesus:
Do you feel as though you have made progress since you first trusted Jesus: no
How do you feel about the progress you have made so far: discouraged by failure
How do you go about trying to stop sinning: try not to think about it
Do you believe that you can ever stop sinning in this life: no
If so, what reason do you have to believe this: because I cant
If not, why do you bother trying: sometimes I seriously wonder about that myself.
What encourages you to keep trying to live a holy life: Nothing anymore.

How long have you been sinning for: 20-25 years
How long has it been since you first acknowledged your sin and trusted in Jesus: 4 years
Do you feel as though you have made progress since you first trusted Jesus: yes
How do you feel about the progress you have made so far: I don't think that I've made as much progress that I would have liked, but I certainly have made a bit of progress, owing to God showing parts of my life that I was unaware of rebellion. Sometimes, though, I feel like I am fighting an uphill battle, with little support.
How do you go about trying to stop sinning: I used to simply tell myself that I shouldn't be doing that since I'm a Christian, but that hasn't always worked—or it has simply been a temporary way. I'm currently being accountable (that helps); I ask for the Holy Spirit to change my heart; I read God's word.
Do you believe that you can ever stop sinning in this life: no
If so, what reason do you have to believe this: Because the Bible tells me so. And, in my experience, I can often feel the struggle between the old nature and the new creation. Only things will be perfect when Christ comes back.
If not, why do you bother trying: Because I am called to live a holy life. Though I am sinful, I have been rescued from it does not mean I should go back to it. That is illogical. God also requires that I be more like him: being a Christian is not simply to put off but also to put on. Sometimes I feel that it's pointless, but I can only be under sin or under God, and since God has bought me, then I'm under his rule.
What encourages you to keep trying to live a holy life: This is difficult, of course, but living a holy life is what I have been called to, and it is something that God has created me for. That's what I've been learning recently from Ephesians. What also encourages me is that the holy life is not in vain; God is pleased (and is glorified) by the holy life I live. Other people help me to live a holy life; the understanding that living the holy life is the must fulfilling and satisfying way to live—God's way—is a rejoinder to what I have written to. I guess I also know that I'm not running a solo race—that keeps me going on too, as well as some great examples, both Biblical and post-biblical (eg. Paul and Ryle).

How long have you been sinning for: 20-25 years
How long has it been since you first acknowledged your sin and trusted in Jesus: 6 years
Do you feel as though you have made progress since you first trusted Jesus: yes
How do you feel about the progress you have made so far: It's difficult not to be demoralised as we continue to fail. But to be encouraged that we are not saved by works... but by grace.
How do you go about trying to stop sinning: Reflecting upon God's Grace to us in Christ Jesus.
Do you believe that you can ever stop sinning in this life: no
If not, why do you bother trying: While ever we are in our dodgy bodies (i.e. pre resurrection body) we will continue to sin... but Jesus died to gather for himself a purified people eager to do what is good. We are now made free in Christ... we are not free to live how we like... but we are free to live how were created to live. The life God wants for us and intends for us is a good life. It is far greater than being dead in sin. The godly Christian life will involve persecution, however it is far better.
What encourages you to keep trying to live a holy life: The Cross of Christ... The Grace of God... The Spirit at work through the Scriptures... The forgiveness we have in Jesus. An illustration might help:

There was a man who often went on business trips overseas. He was a happily married man, but found himself away from home often. On one occasion on a trip overseas he was involved in an adulterous relationship with another woman. It came about that on his return home, his wife found out about this act of sexual immorality. His wife knowing how much God had forgiven her, found it in her heart to forgive her husband for this destructive act. The husband was amazed at how easy it was for his wife to forgive him. However, one afternoon, the husband returned home from work early. On his way up the stairs to greet his wife, he heard noises coming from the bedroom. As he approached the door, he could hear sobbing, and as he peered into the room he could see his wife kneeling on the ground praying to God. She was pleading with God that he would help her to continue forgiving her husband for what he had done. In actual fact, despite what the husband had initially thought, it wasn’t easy for his wife to forgive him. Realising now what his wife had been through and was continuing to go through to forgive him, the husband realised how great it was to be forgiven. Now next time he goes on a business trip overseas and is tempted to commit adultery again, what do you think will be going through the back of his mind? He would be reminded of what it cost his wife to forgive him last time he stuffed up, and it is hoped that this would persuade him to say ‘No’ to this ungodly act.

It should be like this with us saying ‘No’ to ungodliness. When we see how great the debt that we have been forgiven by God is, we will say ‘No’ to ungodliness. When we see God’s grace to us in Christ Jesus, we will no longer want to be living a life of rebellion against him. We by nature all deserve to be punished for our rejection of God. None of us are worthy to be in a relationship with the creator of the universe and none of us are good enough to be right with him. It is totally by grace that we are in a relationship with God. It is only by Jesus taking the penalty for our rebellion, through his death and resurrection that we can have eternal life with God. How can a holy and just God forgive sinners? What did it cost for us to be forgiven? Well for God to be a just God he must punish sin and it cost Him the life of his own Son, Jesus. Jesus is the righteous one who does not deserve to be punished, who takes the punishment for us who are unrighteous and do deserve to be punished.

When we know how great our debt (that we couldn't pay) was to God, and that in Jesus’ death and resurrection he has paid the penalty for us, when we know this grace of God we will no longer want to live ungodly lives.

Survey data was collected from the front page of Hippocampus Extensions during the month of February 2002.

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