The word “sinner” is widely avoided. It’s associated with religious accusation and fire and brimstone preaching. So I used it in a rock/blues song and pointed it at myself, writing it with chords inspired by "Whippin' Post" by the Allman Brothers.
In this Rock/Blues song, the singer cries in anguish and then presents the remedy, Jesus Christ. In the lyrics, the reasons for being a sinner seem flimsy, but most people don’t know that "sinner" means “without,” similar to the Spanish word “sin”. The word was originally an archery term which means “to miss” (as in missing the target) — in other words, “to lack perfection”. People won’t call someone a “sinner” but easily agree that “nobody’s perfect” — and that’s the true meaning. Here’s a riddle: Who goes to Heaven and who goes to Hell? The good people or the bad people? Answer: The good people go to Hell because they know they’re good. They’re just fine and don’t need help or forgiveness. The bad people go to Heaven because they know they’re bad and they’re sorry. They need forgiveness and they need Jesus and they’re not too proud to ask him for help. Heaven is full of sinners (although repentant sinners). The bottom line is that God is so Holy that no one can be with Him unless they are flawless, an impossibility. So, we must choose to be “clothed in His righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10) and cleansed from our sin through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. It is downright mysterious that it works, but so is our digestive system, according to C.S. Lewis: we eat food without knowing how it keeps us alive.
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I'm A Sinner
words and music by Paige Powell © 2017 Paige E. Powell
1. I'm a sinner! I murdered someone's smile
Using words like a knife
I'm a sinner! Committed murder in my heart
There are many ways to take a life
Bridge: I had no hope. Fell on my knees.
Reached out my arms and cried for Jesus!
I feel so sad for people who don't want his help
They're good enough. They're good to everyone
Never thinking they become a sinner
2. I'm a sinner!
I should wear an "S" on my chest for selfish greed
I'm a sinner! I grab and store and hide
More and more and more and more than I need
Bridge: Nobody lives the perfect way
Without the Lord, I'll go astray!
I feel so sad for people who make no mistakes
Don't need forgiveness 'cause they're never wrong
And they think they don't belong with sinners
3. I'm a sinner! I cut a sister down
With a mean, hurtful glance
I'm a sinner! I craved a married man
And invited him to dance
Bridge: The Lord forgave my lies and cheats
Now I've a place on Heaven's streets
'Cause I'm a sinner!
(spoken) We can't be sinless, but we can certainly sin less
Come join our group of "No one's perfect"
Be part of Heaven's city filled with sinners!
From the October 5, 2021 Blog: The Story Behind the Song, "I'm A Sinner"
Can Christianity be explained in a song? There are paradoxes. And some try to use Jesus as a hammer. Even when I read the Bible, I see Jesus being stern one minute and gentle the next. He was the most stern with the religious leaders. What does that tell you?
Then, there's that word, "sinner" which conjures up an image of a mean-faced preacher pointing his bony finger, accusing you and yelling "repent!". Oh yes, that will attract people (not!). The only way I could think of explaining Christianity was to point that finger to myself and call myself a sinner. A true follower of Jesus Christ will tell you that they are a "sinner, saved by grace". It's as if you have to be bad, or admit you are bad in the first place.
I wrote my explanation in a Blues song. In "I'm A Sinner" (click on the title) I describe some of the ways I am bad, which may seem not so bad to you, but there's only so much I'll confess in a song. I also composed it as a hard-hitting Rock song, with the chords and style inspired by "Whippin' Post" by the Almon Brothers, one of my favorite emotional songs.
The idea for "I'm A Sinner" started in a conversation with Pastor Dan Hamlin back when I was attending Greenbelt Community Church. He told me that Christianity has a lot of paradoxes, and asked me a riddle: "Who goes to Heaven and Hell, the good people or the bad people?" I can't remember my reply, but he answered, "The good people go to Hell because they know they're good and they don't need Jesus or any help. The bad people go to Heaven because they know they're bad and need forgiveness and help from Jesus."
Wow. How backwards! "I'm A Sinner," which you can hear on Spotify, includes that concept in my explanation of Christianity. In addition, though most people hate words like "sinner" or "repent," they will agree that "nobody's perfect" which I include at the very end of the song. It's a bottom-line basis for why we need Jesus.
Dear reader, let me assure you that you don't need to believe in Jesus to start investigating who he was. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is when Jesus says to his followers after they have been with him for 3 years, "Do you now believe?"* So, they SAW him and his miracles and didn't believe! You are welcome to read more on the page for "I'm A Sinner", but if not, thank you for listening!
*For you Bible-thumpers, John 16:31
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