Living With The Sin Of -- It's Not So Bad

“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.” —John 6:66

“When God, by His Spirit through His Word, gives you a clear vision of His will, you must “walk in the light” of that vision (1 John 1:7). Don’t look at someone else and say, ‘Well, if he can have those views and prosper, why can’t I?’ You have to “walk in the light” of the vision that has been given to you. If we don’t see and understand this, it is because we are ignoring the underlying principles of our Lord’s teaching. But if a New Testament standard is revealed to us by the light of God, and we don’t try to measure up, or even feel inclined to do so, then we begin to backslide. It means your conscience does not respond to the truth. That moment marks you as one who either continues on with even more devotion as a disciple of Jesus Christ, or as one who turns to go back as a deserter.” Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

There spiritual danger with the sin of not so bad. (James 2:10) “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.”  Have you ever heard someone say .. well that is not “so” bad, it’s only ________. You can fill in the blank.  What came to my mind was movies .. there only a little profanity… there is only brief nudity.  Why do we say that. “there is only”? We say it or think it because we want to justify what we are about to do or did.  Actually what is happening is that, we are debating with the Spirit.  Trying to convince Him that we are not engaging in sin.  Unfortunately, that practice and acceptance has become so common in the American Christian culture that accepting sinful acts in the television and movies we watch is common place.  Families struggle with the effects of premarital sex … drugs .. alcohol … yet they pay money to watch it played out on the screen or television and justify it by calling it entertainment.  They argue that it’s just a movie.  Think about this.  Companies spend billions of dollars on advertising every year.  The reason is that they want to influence your thinking.  Do you really believe that they would spend all that money if it didn’t work?  Our culture “advertises” its values in the same way.  Behavior that you personally detest, that you would not personally be involved in, you submit to in your mind by being a willing voyeur. And worse, you allow, even encourage your children to do the same.

When you compare the natural life with the Word of God, the differences are obvious – glaring even.  It’s just that we refuse to look.  And if we do, even though the Spirit in us says “No”, our flesh says “yes”, and our mind says “It’s not so bad!”  There are many other examples, other than the visual media.  All of it is temptation. 

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” – 1 John 2:15- 17

Some of the most popular television shows are about crime and crime fighters.  Good overcoming evil.  That is not so bad is it?  But with the good we must accommodate sex, violence, profanity, illicit relationships …. Many things that are contrary to who we are as Christians and we would, hopefully, not participate in…. Well .. I think I will let you debate whether this applies to you with the Holy Spirit.  The bottom line .. we need to apply the same rigor in what we do and watch  as we do in our judging what other people do and don’t do.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” – Matthew 7:3-5

It's a lot easier to see these issues in other peoples' lives.  But, are you guilty of compromise?  Have your taught your children to do the same? Those who have ears let them hear .. those who have eyes, let them see!

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone