Dormant defects are not sins of ignorance. We feel absolutely no shame or quilt when we commit a sin of ignorance. But not so with defective traits of character. Whether active or dormant when a defective trait of character surfaces we feel shame and guilt. Why? Because we naturally and instinctively know we are guilty of wrongdoing. It is a known sin.

All of us possess dormant defective traits of character, that is, inherited traits we haven't discovered or cultivated yet. As a boy Jesus Himself possessed them. Of course He became aware of them later on. Dormant defects are nothing more than inherited traits of character we have not, for one reason or another, developed or cultivated. We will never, in this lifetime, become aware of all of them.

Does God hold us accountable and guilty for possessing dormant defective traits of character?

What is the difference between dormant traits and cultivated traits?

Mike:Does God hold us accountable and guilty for possessing dormant defective traits of character?

Tom:Using your definition, would even Christ have had dormant defective traits of character? If I understood your definition correctly (which I may not have) dormant defective traits of character refer to genetic predispositions we have to certain sins which have been passed to us from our ancestors. Even Christ had these. Yet, of course, He never developed any of these.

Assuming I am correctly understanding your definition, the answer would be no, we are not held accountable for these things.

However, if one were to understand dorment defective traits of characters as defective traits of character which we currently possess but are ignorant of, that's a different matter. We are responsible for light we either openly reject or purposely avoid pursuing. The real issue isn't being held accountable for these things, but dishonoring our heavenly Father by misrepresenting His character to others.

Mike:What is the difference between dormant traits and cultivated traits?

Tom:Genetic/potential vs. developed/actual traits.

Tom, as I see it, a dormant defective trait of character is an inherited trait we haven’t cultivated yet, and may never cultivate. It could be drug addictions, or it could be things we will never encounter, for example, temptations pertaining to royalty or political leaders.

I do not believe, however, that dormant defects include inherited traits of character we have cultivated accidentally or unwittingly or ignorantly. It is impossible to cultivate a character trait without realizing it. The very nature of character development itself is what makes it impossible.

Sinful character is the result of wilfully, knowingly violating our conscience and convictions by habitually thinking, speaking or behaving in a way we know is wrong. As such, it is impossible to possess an unknown sinful trait of character, or a character trait we do not know is sinful.

Do you see what I mean?

Look, guys, this is completely unrealistic. How does someone discover that he has a tendency for lasciviousness, for instance, without having a lascivious thought?

No Mike, I don't see what you mean. You seem to have made a definition which is circular, and hence meaningless. You assert it's impossible for us to have an unknown sinful trait of character because all sinful traits of character are known. If this is the case, the very phrase "unknown sinfual trait of character" is completely unhelpful, since you don't believe there is such a thing. You are simply asserting you don't believe it's possible for a born -again person to have sinful traits of character.

As far as I can tell, according to your definition, Christ had dorment defective traits of character, since these are nothing more than genetic predispositions to sin which need not be developed. Am I correct that this is your view? Obviously if Christ could have defective dorment traits of character, such traits cannot be sinful.

Tom, I do not appreciate you referring to my view of sinful character as “meaningless”.

Besides, you misunderstood what I posted. Do you understand the difference between inherited traits of character and cultivated traits of character? If so, then you should have no problem with my view of dormant defective traits of character.

And, if you understand how character is developed you shouldn’t have any problem understanding why there can be no such thing as an unknown cultivated sinful trait of character. It's impossible to cultivate a sinful trait of character without realizing it. Do you know why?

Mike:Tom, I do not appreciate you referring to my view of sinful character as “meaningless”.

Tom:Mike, please reread what I wrote. I said your statement that one cannot have unknown sinful traits of character is meaningless according to your definition, because you do not believe a sinful trait of character can be unknown. You see the differenct between my saying your statement is meaningless and your view is meaningless, correct?

Mike:Besides, you misunderstood what I posted. Do you understand the difference between inherited traits of character and cultivated traits of character? If so, then you should have no problem with my view of dormant defective traits of character.

Tom:What I was commenting on what that for you to say that one cannot have unknown sinful traits of character is meaningless, according to your ideas, because you do not believe that a sinful trait of character can be unknown. I've correctly understood you, haven't I? I have no idea why you think I have misunderstood your post. I think I understand your idea perfectly, at least on this point. If you think I have misunderstood you, please quote some statement of mine with which you disagree and point out where I have misunderstood you.

Mike:And, if you understand how character is developed you shouldn’t have any problem understanding why there can be no such thing as an unknown cultivated sinful trait of character.

Tom:For you to say something like, "I do not believe there is such a thing as an unknown sinful trait of character" is fine and meaninful, but for you to say, "Born again believers do not have unknown sinful traits of character" is not meaningful, or useful might be a better word, because you don't believe there is such a thing. You would communicate your idea more clearly by simply stating that you do not believe there is such a thing as an unknown sinful trait of character.

Mike:It's impossible to cultivate a sinful trait of character without realizing it. Do you know why?

Tom:I know why you think this. You think this because you think all sinful traits of character are known.