What About Respectable Sins?

[Overaged]

What About Respectable Sins?

How often do Christians confront the respectable sins that society, in general, seems to tolerate?

"Have we become so preoccupied with the major sins that we have lost sight of our need to deal with our own, more subtle sins?" - Jerry Bridges

There are a number of specific "acceptable sins" that we all tend to tolerate within ourselves, ones such as jealousy, anger, pride, unthankfulness, and judgmentalism, to name just a few.

Why do we tolerate such sins by quipping: "I am only human;" if we are truly serious about the Lordship of Jesus in our life? And in our church?

Quote:

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

One of the first things I have heard people say about this when the subject is broached is "Don't be judgmental." But I am not so sure that is a good word to use here.

What think ye; How readest thou?

[fccool]

If we approach Christian belief with the reality it should be infused with, we know that we can't think that this verse describes a "real" Christian. It describes an ideal one. But, idealists take it as "reality now", and not reality to be.

The first Adventist (who claimed to be one) who I've spoken to told me that he has not sinned since he was saved. That's taking idealism to extreme. The other extreme is what you describing. In my opinion, we should be somewhere down the healthy middle. We should give ourselves some room for failure, without paranoia. And at the same time we should strive to improve.

It certainly not an excuse to do what we want, but it should be an excuse to understand other people who now can't do, or don't want to do something. It does not mean that they are somehow "worse" than we are, or rejecting God. God can accept people where they are, and it may take their lifetime to mold them where they should be.

There are ways to correct, but that reproof should be handled by people who that person trusts, and not by random church member who has little understanding of people's personal situation.

[Overaged]

In my opinion, we should be somewhere down the healthy middle. We should give ourselves some room for failure, without paranoia. And at the same time we should strive to improve.

Pro 24:15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:

Pro 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

[Gail]

I don't know if respectable is an apt term to use. Invisible, perhaps? The sins we don't see...

The Bible talks about those sins anyway. People will notice them, too. It's maybe only we ourselves that is being fooled into thinking they are either not sins, or respectable ones.

Jesus' words about anger, unforgiveness, lust, etc hit right down at the core- the heart level. That is the spring from where the sins originate.

[Parade Orange]

Its all about being comfortable with your own sins or others.

Its not about RIGHTOUSNESS!!

[ClubV12]

I don't want to be comfortable with my own sins, I want to see them for what they are and determine to move up to the next level of Godliness.

I'm not going to worry and fret over them, but I'm going to acknowledge them not only to myself but to Jesus. And I'll be specific about them so they can be identified and dealt with.

[Overaged]

I don't want to be comfortable with my own sins, I want to see them for what they are and determine to move up to the next level of Godliness.

I'm not going to worry and fret over them, but I'm going to acknowledge them not only to myself but to Jesus. And I'll be specific about them so they can be identified and dealt with.

Sometimes we are so proud of our "ability" to resist sin and "be ready."

I wonder what such would say about the sin of UNTHANKFULNESS?

[ClubV12]

"Righteousness by faith, simple as ABC." I accept Christs sacrafice as the ONLY possible hope of being cleansed from sin and worthy of the Fathers acceptance.

"Faith, without works, is dead."

In response to the acceptance of His love and salvation I take His hand and together determine to do my part in developing a character like His.

[John317]

(quoting): 2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Originally Posted By: fccool

If we approach Christian belief with the reality it should be infused with, we know that we can't think that this verse describes a "real" Christian. It describes an ideal one. But, idealists take it as "reality now", and not reality to be.

What is that verse describing? All it is saying is that a true believer who is "in Christ" is a new creation. You've probably heard the expression, "Wow, so-and-so is like a new person."

It is not saying that he never commits a mistake or a sin. He is growing in his relationship with God. It's a process.

When a person becomes a Christian, there should be a difference, and if there isn't, there's good reason to question whether the person is really in Christ. It's impossible for a believer to be "in Christ" without Christ being in the believer. When this happens, the Holy Spirit is in the believer.

See Romans 8: 1-11.

Quote:

.... The first Adventist (who claimed to be one) who I've spoken to told me that he has not sinned since he was saved....

Only a foolish person would say such a thing. Either that or someone who doesn't understand what sin is.

In all my years of association with the SDA church-- over 50 years-- I've never heard anyone make such a claim.

I'm just saying-- as you no doubt already know-- that it's very rare for an SDA to make that claim. It isn't at all typical of members of our church. A claim like that would prove that the man who made it doesn't understand what he's saying.

[Gerr]

What About Respectable Sins?

No such animal.

[Overaged]

Yes there is. There is a whole range of sins that we tend to tolerate within ourselves, or others; most commonly excusing it all away with: "I am only human" types of excuses. Jealousy, anger, pride, unthankfulness, judgmentalism, selfishness, etc

I understand what you are trying to say - that in God's eyes, no sin is "respectable;" but to us, well, sadly, it is a different story.

And don't get me wrong. I didn't start this topic from the standpoint of spiritual my own accomplishment; but, rather, from the trenches of my own warfare with sin.

I believe one of the greatest sins of the last days will be/is unthankfulness. Why don't we disfellowship people for this? We sure don't have trouble doing it for certain other sins.

[Overaged]

Its all about being comfortable with your own sins or others.

Its not about RIGHTOUSNESS!!

[Overaged]

I don't know if respectable is an apt term to use. Invisible, perhaps? The sins we don't see...

The Bible talks about those sins anyway. People will notice them, too. It's maybe only we ourselves that is being fooled into thinking they are either not sins, or respectable ones.

Jesus' words about anger, unforgiveness, lust, etc hit right down at the core- the heart level. That is the spring from where the sins originate.

[Gerr]

I try do my best not to make excuses for my sins. I call it as I see it.

[Gail]

In Jesus' eyes it was the motivation (heart) that He was interested. Without that change there is no hope of change. Well, maybe an external show, but not a transformation.

[Gail]

The idea of the new birth fascinates me!

[Overaged]

The idea of the new birth fascinates me!

[Overaged]

I believe one of the greatest sins of the last days will be/is unthankfulness. Why don't we disfellowship people for this?