The “judgmental christian” stereotype is so well-ingrained into our culture that it is nearly impossible to turn on the television and see a person of faith character who is not villainous by their fervor and love for God.

Lest we be compared to the likes of the “God warrior” (Trading Spouses, 2008), many millennials have opted for a watered down, artificially sweetened version of Christianity -- one where we are reluctant to profess beliefs that non-believers might consider outdated, religious, crazy or -- here it comes -- judgmental.

And it’s not like we blame them, right? We all have that one grandmother who fears for our sanctification whenever a curse word passes our lips or a hem line rises above the knee.

Much of what I’ll call “bible language” has, by association, become laden with negative connotations and so, consequently, we’ve stopped using them -- with others and with ourselves, which as a result has led to less accountability with others and with ourselves.

This may be especially true when it comes to the S-word: Sin.

Read it out loud -- sounds harsh, right? Conjure images of fire and brimstone? Well it shouldn’t. Sure, sin isn’t meant to be a pretty word but neither is “phlegm” and nobody’s beating around that bush.

“Sin” has developed this ominous persona; the idea that you have “sinned” or are a “sinner” has come to mean that you are someone who is wicked, a wretch, dirty and/or abominable.

But really a “sin” is something that goes against the will of God. Or, even more simply put, a mistake. Of course, it’s not a “whoops, dropped the eggs” sort of mistake, but rather one that could compromise you spiritually (as well as emotionally, mentally, or physically).

A sinner, then, is a person who makes mistakes or doesn’t always act in accordance with the will of God, (which is all of us).

Sin is not a word that was constructed to condemn people to hell, but rather to encapsulate the very true nature of human beings -- erroneous.

But those of us who cha cha slide around its use end up making a different error, which is not realizing the impact that treading the wrong path can have.

When we are unable to admit sin, we are unable to admit that we’ve done (true, real) wrong, which makes us less likely to take accountability for those actions and to change them (“If it ain’t broke don’t fix it,” eh?)

And if we can’t even be honest with ourselves and our peers how are we going to be honest with God? We shut down communication and allow Him fewer avenues to speak into our lives, and redirect our steps because we’re too busy denying that our actions were “sinful” in the first place.

In order to be a productive, progressive and advancing person we have to be able to admit our wrongdoings. Without that accountability, we’re doomed to live in error. “Sin” definitely has some weight to it, but it’s an important staple in the language of believers.