The Lint of Sin

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." (Heb. 12: 1 kjv)

I prefer the English Standard Version which says:

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."

Other translations say "so easily entangles us" (niv, nasb, etc.), "so easily ensnares us" (nkjv), "the sin that just won't let go" (contemporary English version), "the sin which holds on to us so tightly" (Good News Translation). These are also good ways to think about the metaphor the apostle uses.

The words "which doth so easily beset" are from a single Greek word, euperistatos. It is the only time it is used in the new testament. It stands for anything that hinders a runner in running a race. So the exhortation speaks of laying aside "every weight." Running a race with weights insures defeat. The "weight" is a metaphor for "sin" in the text. Each sin is a weight to the Christian in running the race he began when he became a Christian. But, the apostle uses another metaphor, that of things that cling to a person or to his clothes, such as lint. When Paul says "which does so easily" cling or beset us it does make one think of how lint so easily clings to us. It is not so easy to shake off lint, though it is so easy to find lint clinging to you.

I had a four night debate in the early 1990s with John Welch of the "Church of Christ" in Indianapolis on whether a truly born again believer could lose salvation and in one of my speeches I said "we all sin every day." Well, like a good sarcastic Campbellite, he got up and said "Steve, why don't you tone down your sin a little." I responded by citing the above text and said that Paul also said that sin did easily beset him, and that he also said "when I would do good evil is present with me."

Sometimes you need help to get rid of the lint that clings to you. There are instruments designed to remove lint, such as sticky rollers, and there are instruments God has given to us to help us remove the lint of sin. There are also places on us that have lint that we cannot reach, such as on our backs, and so we need someone to use the roller, and they are helps in removing this lint. So, our brothers and sisters may be a big help to us in ridding ourselves of the lint of sin. Though there are tools for removing lint, I know of none that prevent lint from clinging to us. However, David did say: "Your word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you." (Psalm 119: 11 nkjv) God's word in the heart can be a preventative and it is true that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." One way to limit the amount of lint (sin) from clinging to us is not to go to places where you are likely to pick up a lot of lint, such as in a cotton factory. Just like working in a greasy engine repair shop will prove difficult in keeping the oil, dirt, and grime off, so too is going to places where sin abounds.

I like the old word "beset." It speaks of how things come at you from all directions, like lint. Christians of the past often spoke of "besetting sins." These are particular sins that are peculiar to a particular Christian. Every Christian has his or her weaknesses or faults. James says "For we all stumble in many things."(James 3: 2 nkjv) 

Would to God that righteousness and godliness did cling to us as easily as sin!