Justifying Our Sins: No Matter How You Slice Them, They're Still Wrong



Why is it that we try and justify our sins; to make them look less "sinful" or unattractive?

The answer is simply human nature...sinful human nature.  Take this for example:

I recently read an article about a mom who doesn't see a problem with her 5 year old son swearing.  She claims that she sees nothing wrong with using "naughty" or "adult" words when frustrated or agitated over something, yet she justifies her potty mouth by saying, "I only ever swear for emphasis, I never swear at anyone".  Well that does make us feel better now doesn't it? Not to mention the fact she is setting such a tarnished example for her child.

Call me old fashioned, but things like this cause my eye to twitch and my soul to feel a stinging pain.

I have been in Walmart one too many times when I've overheard a conversation between a parent and child, two or more teenagers, or even a couple of elderly grandmas, cussing like a sailor without even blushing.   Yet, upon making eye contact, often they turn away, look down, lower their tone, or cuss even more under their breath like a dog growling at another dog who has just snatched their bone.

Our natural response to sin is to immediately try to cover it up.  We certainly don't want to be labeled as a "sinner" or someone who is out of line in some way, yet no matter how much we try to justify, sugar coat, dress up or hide our misgivings, they are still plain and simply...wrong.

Take for instance a couple who lives together before marriage.  We can justify it by saying, "Everyone does it these days.  It's how you truly know a person."  Well, I suppose we can agree that a couple does get to know one another better, but despite justifying our actions, God says it's wrong, and there is a reason for that.

Or, what about ignoring the speed limit sign on the highway we travel?  Is that number just a suggestion?  Obviously, we come up with all sorts of excuses of why we are speeding such as: I was running late, I didn't see it,  It's too slow, Officers usually give a 10 mile lenience, etc.

The fact of the matter is, if a speed limit sign says 55, then 55 or under is what we should drive.  Yet, how many of us (and yes, I'm guilty), justify our sin by making it sound not quite that bad?

Romans 2:15 says, "They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them."

What this verse is telling us is that God has placed within each of us a conscience of right and wrong, good and evil, and we know by that little voice inside that we are going to be held accountable for our actions.  Yet, we have gotten so good at suppressing those thoughts, sloughing them off, and disguising them through our own justification, that we begin to believe we can ignore the law (whether man-made or God-designed) and do what we want.


It boils down to the fact that no matter how we slice it this side of eternity, disobeying God's laws and those He has established here on earth, are still wrong and still have consequences.  Thankfully, for those of us who have chosen to follow Christ, we have been once and for all "justified" through His shed blood on the cross, and for that, I am thankful!!

Marching on,
Kristi


*Article about potty mouth mom. https://www.yahoo.com/beauty/one-mom-blogger-doesnt-mind-son-5-swears-161203511.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma

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