I speak out against sin in general – not pointing a finger at a particular person or telling them their final destination/sentence. And then, the very people that love that sin so much that they’ve claimed it as the defining name for themselves take offense as if I’m “judging them”. No, speaking truth about what is and is not sin is not judging.
YOU ARE NOT YOUR SIN.
If I am speaking about your sin, I am talking about something that has hold of you – I’m not talking about you.
Sin is not arbitrary, and it is not defined by the masses, it is defined by the Word of God. I do not claim to be sinless, but I do look out for the traps, the tricks, and the temptations of sin. The problem isn’t that people aren’t perfect – that’s true of all of us.
The first problem is that people don’t accept that sin is what God calls sin, and that is absolute. I admit that I have sin, but that I try my best to avoid it. Many try to justify to themselves that this isn’t sin or that isn’t sin because they want to believe that they are good people. You see, I acknowledge that I’m not perfect. But I’m not trying to call good bad and bad good in order to feel comfortable with who I am. I accept and acknowledge good as good and bad as bad, as defined by the Word of God.
The second problem is that people don’t love God, they love sin. Yes, I understand that many hate the light. Yes, I understand that many hate to hear me mention the name of Jesus Christ. Yes, I understand that many hate to hear anything about sin, repentance, discipleship. Yes, I understand that many hate to hear anything about Christianity that comes with a cost, or a commitment, or a calling, or a purpose for our lives other than to enjoy life today to its fullest. But is that biblical Christianity? Is that what Christ actually calls us to do when we look at His Word and His Commandments?
I understand that many people say that “the church has hurt me” and that “religion has hurt me”. I used to say the same thing. But it wasn’t that the people actually were judging me or saying things to hurt me. The truth is that I wasn’t interested in hearing the truth. I was satisfied trying to make my idea of Jesus fit whatever my lifestyle was at the time – instead of trying to make my lifestyle fit what the Word of God tells me about Jesus. I had no interest in knowing or falling in love with a real, alive, righteous and perfect God – I was satisfied loving and serving myself. The church didn’t hurt me – the conviction about truth hurt because I wasn’t willing to lay down my way of life and follow His.
Proverbs 9:7-127 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;reprove a wise man, and he will love you.9 Give instruction[b] to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.11 For by me your days will be multiplied,and years will be added to your life.12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
And some will ask, well why do you do it? Why do you throw your pearls before the swine?
Matthew 10:26-33So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
If we refuse to accept the truth about ourselves and about God and about His stance when it comes to sin, how can we realize the true value of this grace?
If I talk about sin, it isn’t for judgement or for measurement and comparison – but it is so that we might wake up and see it for what it is. It isn’t something for us to toy around with. It’s serious business.
And when I realize that, it opens my eyes to not only the value of grace, but the power of His Holy Spirit to come into my life and change me.
Harold J. Ballinger 