An anonymous comment left on my devotion The F-word is a good illustration of popular ways people justify their sins. So let's learn from it!
This unidentified reader explained:
1. Ephesians 4:29 and 5:4, which forbid “obscenity, foolish talk, coarse joking, or unwholesome words,” don't prohibit the use of the F-word if it's used in “context.”
2. God “has more important things on His mind” than to care if His children use the F-word.
3. Only judgmental people care about such things.
Most “excuses” for sin involve:
1. “Exceptions”
Excusing sin based on its “context” is called “situational ethics.” This is the belief that right and wrong are dependent on circumstances, not fixed commands.
2. Downplaying sin
God cares about every detail of our lives, every word we speak (Matthew 10:29-30; Matthew 12:36). But people sometimes convince themselves that their sins are insignificant.(1)
3. Judgmentally judging those who disagree
This reader quoted “judge not” and proceeded to harshly judge the motives of anyone who disagrees with him. And that, my friends, is exactly the type of judgment “judge not” prohibits. See Misunderstandings About Judgment.
If we're making exceptions, thinking our sins are insignificant, or judging people who call us to account, we need to repent.
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Footnotes:
↪Psalm 19:14 - "May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."
↪Colossians 3:8 - "You must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips."
↪Colossians 4:6 - "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."
↪Matthew 15:11 - "What goes into someone's mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them."
↪Matthew 12:35-36 - "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken."
Bible Love Notes
I know about the situational sin. I committed such a sin but I quickly realized that I was in the wrong and needed to confess and repent. Sometimes people don't want to follow the "hard" things that God asks of us. But He asks us to do those things for our own good.
ReplyDeleteVery true, Desertrosebhc.
DeleteAnd very good that you repented because God is faithful to forgive us our sins!
God bless you.
I have a tendency to cringe when anyone uses profanity then turn around and says how good God is
ReplyDeletePerhaps I am judging and I ask for forgiveness and I pray for the person. You see so many people straddling the fence one foot in the world the other foot following God
I agree, i’m just thankful it’s not my job to make everyone do it right! I have a hard enough time getting me right!🤪
Delete(Eph.5:19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,) I don't see that word, or those like it, in that instruction. :) Words can be violent, too. Sarcasm is also something often excused. The word comes from the Greek word: sarkazein, that literally means "to tear flesh like a dog." Often, folks laugh at sarcasm in our culture. We certainly no longer live under the law and there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. At the same time, we are to know how to bridle our tongue and be respectful toward all. We are to avoid offending others in love, even if we believe we have the liberty to speak in such a manner. Paul was at liberty to eat meat sacrificed to idols, yet he refrained from doing so to avoid offense.
ReplyDeleteThis was a very good devo, it really made me open my eyes to my personal struggle with how I talk (especially when I get upset) I have been sinfully justifying myself with the same 'its not in the bible" delusional excuse. Clearly, It is stated in several verses, we just have to be open & willing to see it clearly without making excuses & justification.It does not say many specific words but gives a comprehensive explanation of exactly what we need to know what to say, how to say it, and clearly see the difference. Our intent behind any word can be wrong and I didn't grasp that fully until reading this.. I AM SO GLAD YOU SHARED THIS TODAY,, It definitely helped me see my own demons of how I use words and I truly needed to see this so I can work on my wayof using words!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a blessing to hear how God is working in your life....a sign that you belong to the Lord who cares deeply about our hearts and minds and lives!
DeleteGod bless you.