I am Christopher Turk, and I write every page on this site. For more than thirty years I served in full-time ministry, and for about two decades of that I was the lead pastor of a church in Penticton, British Columbia. I retired in 2021. I did not want to stop teaching, so I started Sins In The Bible.
In This Article
Ordained To Gospel Ministry
I was ordained to gospel ministry in 1994. Before that I had spent years as a lay elder and teacher, and my call was confirmed by the elders of my sending church. Grace Fellowship in Penticton later recognized it as well. I mention this plainly because you deserve to know who is answering your question: an evangelical pastor who has spent his working life with an open Bible.
Grace Fellowship Church, Penticton
I served as lead elder and pastor of Grace Fellowship Church in Penticton, British Columbia. The work was preaching, teaching and shepherding. In other words, I opened the Scriptures with people, week after week, and tried to say clearly what the text says and what it asks of us.
Why The Pulpit Closed
When the pandemic arrived, the church had to close to protect the congregation. That ended my time in the pulpit. I retired, but I could not simply put the Bible down. Teaching is not something I switch off, and this blog is where it continues.
Why I Write About Sin
People in the pews kept asking the same questions: is this a sin, what does the Bible actually say, how do we live it out? The blog is where I answer those questions from Scripture. Sin is a heavy subject, and it is easy to handle it badly, either by shrugging it off or by using it as a stick. I want to do neither. The Bible treats sin seriously because it treats people seriously, and it sets every hard word about sin beside the good news that God forgives and restores those who come to Him through Christ.
Some questions here are about plain moral failures, like lying or stealing. Others are about things the Bible never mentions by name, where we have to reason carefully. Others are painful, and I try to write those with gentleness. If you want to see every topic at a glance, the A to Z list is the place to start, and What Is Sin? lays the foundation.
How I Answer Questions On This Site
I follow a few habits, and I want you to know what they are.
Scripture comes first. I start with what the Bible says, in context, before I offer an opinion. When I quote a verse, I quote it from the New International Version and link it to Bible Gateway so you can read the passage around it yourself and check me.
I am honest about disagreement. Christians who love the Bible and love the Lord sometimes land in different places, on questions like drinking, divorce, or how to read certain passages. When that is the case, I describe the views fairly, including those of Catholic, Orthodox and other traditions, and I tell you where I lean and why. I will not pretend a debated question is settled, and I will not pretend a settled one is open.
I will not invent. I do not make up statistics, studies or stories to make a point land harder. If I am not certain of a fact, I say it in general terms or leave it out.
I am a teacher writing for people who typed a worried question and want a straight, kind answer. I am not a counselor reading your situation, and an article cannot replace a pastor who knows you, a doctor, or emergency help. If you are in crisis, please contact a local crisis line or emergency services right away.
How To Reach Me
You can write to me at sinsinthebible (at) gmail (dot) com. I read what comes in, though I cannot promise a long reply to every message, and I cannot give personal counsel by email.
This site is free to read. If it has helped you and you would like to support the work, you can buy me a coffee. There is no pressure at all, and I am grateful either way.