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Every one of our sinful actions has a suicidal power on the faculties that put that action forth. When you sin with the mind, that sin shrivels the rationality. When you sin with the heart or the emotions, that sin shrivels the emotions. When you sin with the will, that sin destroys and dissolves your willpower and your self-control. Sin is the suicidal action of the self against itself. Sin destroys freedom because sin is an enslaving power.
Timothy Keller
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Sin has a destructive impact on our mental, emotional, and willpower faculties, ultimately leading to a loss of freedom.

In this quote, Timothy Keller discusses how engaging in sinful actions negatively affects various aspects of our being. He argues that when we sin mentally, emotionally, or through our will, we diminish rationality, emotions, and self-control, respectively. Therefore, Keller portrays sin not merely as a moral failing but as a self-destructive act that leads to spiritual and emotional enslavement, stripping individuals of their freedom and agency.

Themes

SinFreedomSelf-DestructionWillpowerRationality

In practice

Example use cases

During a discussion about morality, one might quote this to emphasize the consequences of actions.

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