Little sins?

Is there such a thing?  I don’t believe there is in God’s vocabulary.  But when you and I think of sin, I think we sometimes qualify them and measure them in our minds and spirit.  I know I do. I can easily rationalize in my mind and soul and sometimes think my sin is not so bad.

I’m not a murderer; I don’t do drugs; I’m not abusive. I’m not purposely trying to hurt anyone.  Even as a believer and follower of Jesus, I still commit “little sins”.

What messed up thinking!  The enemy wins when our thinking is along these lines.  We’re right where he wants us – taking our sin lightly and justifying it.

As the old adage goes, “sin is sin”.

The older I get, the more I realize that when God, through the still/small/quiet voice of the Holy Spirit, convicts me of something, I need to recognize it as SIN in my life.  And not discount it – and tell Him that it’s not so bad.

Have you been there?  Have you tried to argue with God?  To do it is one thing.  To admit that you’ve had that type of conversation with Him is almost humiliating and laughable.  But I’ll be the first to raise my hand and confess that I have. More times than I would like to admit.

Here’s just one example of a “little sin” that could’ve grown into a major problem in my life.

Years ago, when God first blessed us with a baby, there was no question about what I would do.  After aching and longing for a child, Norman and I prayed, and we planned.  I would give up my teaching career to stay at home full time.  It was a sacrifice for sure as I totally loved teaching – and knew God had called me to the profession.  But I also knew God called me to be a mom, and I was so thankful.  Some women balance being a mom and full-time job well; I knew I wasn’t one of them.

I loved every minute of being a stay-at-home mom.  Nathan and I literally bonded when he first came out of the womb (a story for another time). The first 3 months were tough as he had colic so they are somewhat a blur for Norman and me.  But after that, he was a happy and fun baby.  I took up oodles of time with him and was blessed to have my parents close so I was able to take Nathan to see them often or have them to our home.

But when Nathan was a toddler and still took naps, I got into the habit of watching a soap opera.  Growing up, I remember Mom and my grandmother that lived with us watched soap operas.  Looking back, I think I turned to this pastime out of finding a release and maybe even boredom…not wanting to do laundry or face other responsibilities.

But God convicted me of this habit. I remember it vividly.  I also remember arguing with Him about it.

The conversation went something like this:

Me (feeling a nudge and “word” from the Lord that I needed to turn the TV off): “It’s not so bad.  It’s one of the main things I do for me.  There’s no bad language.  It doesn’t affect me. Is there really any harm?  It’s not that big of a deal, is it?”

God: “Turn it off.  You’re not looking at this with the right attitude.  You’re asking the wrong questions.”

Looking back, I’m embarrassed that I argued with God…and argued more than once!! And I made such ridiculous arguments.

Me continued: “Watching those shows really doesn’t have any impact on me.  There’s nothing THAT bad in either one. I can handle it.”

Oh, friend.  Even back then, the enemy was having a field day with me!!  I was hearing from the Lord LOUD and CLEAR, but I was choosing to ignore and go my own way.  Red lights and the warning sirens were going off in my mind and heart, but I refused to heed God’s loving attempts to get my attention. 

But don’t each of us do this in various areas?  We rationalize our sin.  We think we know best…or at least we just WANT what we want.  We want our own way.  And we think we’re immune to the ploys of the enemy, and in this particular case, I thought I was above the influence of ungodly things going into my brain and heart.

At this point in my life, I was in my early thirties.  I had been a believer in Jesus and follower long enough to know that I needed to surrender my rights and listen to the promptings from the Holy Spirit.

I distinctly remember the struggle.  It was a tug of war going on in my spirit.

This area of my life was becoming a major stronghold.  At some point, I remember realizing that it wasn’t about the soap opera.  It was about my heart and obedience — or lack thereof.

I gave up watching one soap opera.  It was still an inner battle, but I did it.

But the other one was a different story.  The other soap opera was my favorite.  I loved each of the characters and actors.  I was pulled into the drama.  Have you been there?

I will admit that I didn’t give this one particular soap opera up cold turkey.  I’d quit for a week or so, and then start back up again.  Some days I would watch and be miserable!!!  Sounds ridiculous, right?  I’m embarrassed to admit it – and admit it to YOU on the printed page.

Now, I’m going to be brutally honest here.  When I finally decided to fully obey the Lord in this matter and quit watching altogether, was I happy?  NO.  Did I miss my program?  You bet!!!

I’m not going to play super Christian and tell you that I didn’t miss it and the time I spent in that “escape world”.

That’s the nature of sin…it’s a temporal fun where the enemy lures and tricks us into thinking we need what he offers.

But in just a week or two, I realized how my attitude about life, my perspective had changed …and how freed up I felt.  There’s no better feeling on the planet than knowing you are being obedient to the Lord and able to have intimate fellowship with Him.

That one sin (I’m sure there were others) became such a hindrance to my spiritual growth.  When God felt distant, I didn’t blame Him.  I knew the reason why.

Why am I sharing this tidbit from my past?  Why would I embarrass myself and share the nitty, gritty details?

Because friend, God put this on my heart.

Someone reading my feeble attempt at a blog is struggling.

We all have those “secret sins” that plague us.  The enemy knows our weakness.  And many times, he uses these to be a stumbling block to our spiritual growth and/or our walk with the Lord.

What’s yours?

I remember reading an article just a few years ago about some church women who secretly struggled with drinking…during the day when hubbies were at work and kids at school.  They just couldn’t cope.  Some drank because of the “secrecy” of it; some to fill a void; some because they liked the taste of wine, beer or other types of alcohol.  Some of them continued with this pattern until they became addicted.  Others just struggled with the guilt. In other cases, the drinking eventually affected marriages and family life.

All I know from experience is if we let this so called “little sins” erupt and don’t deal with them, then I do think they turn into something bigger. It’s the snowball effect…you know.  It begins as a tiny snowball rolling down the hill of your life, but it picks up more snow and more momentum as it rolls down the hill.  So destructive!

 A verse in the Bible totally addresses this….

James 1:14-15 states the following:  ¹⁴ but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

As a follower of Christ, if we keep sinning, even after the Holy Spirit prompts us time and time again, I do think we experience major consequences.  That’s been true in my own life.  And I believe it’s true as a biblical principle.

In verse 15, when James speaks of “sin becoming full-grown and giving birth to death” I think can mean that it leads to the death of our own spirit.  Our hearts become hardened to the Holy Spirit’s leading and prompting. Our heart, that was once tender and moldable to a Holy God, becomes hardened little by little over time, if we allow it by knowingly letting sin creep in and not listening to the Holy Spirit. 

There’s no doubt in my mind that I was on that path re watching that one last soap opera.  You see, the point wasn’t whether or not it was affecting me to put those thoughts and that drama into my head/heart, but it just boiled down to sheer obedience.  Was I willing to hear from God and act on it?  And give up “my rights” even about something “little” in my life?

Reflecting back, I don’t know how much at that age I prayed and asked God to give me the strength to turn off either soap opera.  I tried to rely on myself vs. the power God had placed in me through His Son Jesus.  I had the power that raised Jesus from the dead living in me, and I didn’t tap into it!  I should’ve been crying out to Him for help.  If I did pray and ask for His help, I don’t think I did it enough.

Here’s another example that I’ll relay involving my husband and me.  Ironically, it involves a television program again.

Several years ago, Norman and I gotten into the habit of watching a particular TV show.  We didn’t watch it that often, but both of us, at the same time, felt convicted NOT to watch the show.  I’m sure you’re familiar with it.  It’s “The Golden Girls”.  We rationalized to each other that it was funny; it helped us relax; we loved the actresses, etc.  But we also discussed that it could have language and there were sexual innuendoes and other inappropriate material in the show. In addition, we didn’t think it was a “coincidence” that both of us, at the same time, felt that conviction from the Holy Spirit.

I’m embarrassed to say, we both struggled with the matter for a few days.  It helped that we had one another…and both of us at our core wanted to be obedient to the Holy Spirit’s leading. 

After just a few days, we turned it off and never watched another episode.  It was freeing!!  Nothing like the struggle I had years before with that one particular soap opera.

Hopefully, I had gained some spiritual maturity from the time I was a young mom.  But no matter how mature we become spiritually, the enemy still knows how to push our buttons.

I won’t lie.  Just a few short years after us turning off “The Golden Girls”, Norman and I would be super tired and just surfing channels…usually on a weekend night when we knew we didn’t have to get up for work the next morning.  On occasion, and just every now and then, we were sometimes tempted to pause on “The Golden Girls”. It only happened a few times.  But I can honestly say we’ve never watched another episode.

I’m convinced if we had, nothing good would’ve come from it.

I don’t think God would’ve zapped us with lightning or frogs would invade our house.  But who knows?  Would arguments have ensued?  Would some other consequences have come from it?  I definitely believe so!!

I’m not pointing the judgmental finger at you if you tune into this show.  That’s not my point.  What you put into your mind/heart is between you and God.

Neither is it my point to “call you out” if you watch soap operas.  That’s between you and the Lord.

God convicted Norman and me so we needed to respond to the Holy Spirit’s leading in this particular area.

I take the Lord at His Word.  These verses in James offer a stern warning.  Plus, I know from my own experiences in high school, college and as a young adult, even when you walk with the Lord and desire to please Him, it’s so easy and TEMPTING to take a baby step, and then another baby step and soon be way off the right path. 

Our pastor constantly illustrates this gradual moving away from the Lord, one step at a time.  As he says, the minute you step off and realize it, take action immediately and get back on the right path.  Otherwise, you will end up in the far country (like the prodigal son) and wonder how you got so removed from the Lord.

His reminder of this truth totally underscores my point here.  Ignoring the Lord’s promptings doesn’t seem like that much of a big deal.  But it truly is a HUGE deal if your desire is to live a life controlled by God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit vs a life controlled by your sinful self.  I desire to do the first one!  It’s so worth it!

I don’t want to fit into the world’s mold. This verse tells me I shouldn’t.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

#1 I want to be able to discern and know what the Lord’s will is for me.  This verse makes it clear that if I follow the pattern of the world, then His will won’t be evident to me.

#2 I want to experience the “abundant life” that Jesus speaks of in John 10:10. “The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I (Jesus) have come that you may have life abundant (or full)”. 

I don’t want to wait until I get to heaven to enjoy abundant life.  I want to experience it with and through my Creator God here on earth.

There have been numerous times when I have to go back to the Word and be reminded of what Jesus taught about sin.  And that He set the standard.  I don’t need to look to the left or to the right…and compare myself to my best friend, co-worker or buddy at church to see how I measure up.   And certainly not to myself.

Two standouts for me on this subject are both found in James, such a practical book of the Bible.

James 4:17 NIV (I could’ve picked any version as ALL are extremely clear on this subject): “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”

This verse in James reminds me of a child who knows exactly what she/he is supposed to do but decides not to follow through and be obedient.  He/she just proceeds despite knowing the consequences that will ensue.  The child doesn’t even pause to think of the consequences (I know that’s not stated…as a mom and school teacher, I’m just presuming that!)  How foolish!!  We expect children to be foolish. They’re still learning and growing. But as adults, you would think we would learn.

Here are some examples that come to mind in my own life:

When I worry and don’t give it over to the Lord and keep thinking, obsessing and fretting about something, that is sin.  I need to pray and leave the matter at the feet of King Jesus.

When I keep eating chips and hear a quiet “stop” at 10, and I keep going until I eat 30 or 40, that is the sin of gluttony.

When I respond to someone who has hurt me with harsh words or lash out (knowing that it should be a “gentle answer” instead), that’s sin.

When I know I should call that widow from church that the Lord keeps putting on my heart and don’t take the time to do it, that is sin!  When I don’t follow through on contacting that shut-in that the Lord’s brought to my mind numerous times, that is sin! 

You may be saying, Laura, what’s the big deal?  You may be overstating it! 

Our world has made sin NOT a big deal.  Our world is so loose with sin that we have politically correct terms for many sins. If someone cheats on a spouse, it’s no longer called adultery; it’s just “freedom in a relationship” or a “casual affair”.  When a man loves a man, “love is love” is much easier to swallow than “sodomy”.  It’s no longer a “lie”, but a “little white lie” or “fib”.  When I was a kid or teenager, having sex before marriage was considered a HUGE deal and definitely living together was frowned upon.  Now, you’re thought of as a prude if you haven’t been intimate with someone by age 25!!  And it is commonplace for even a supposedly Christian couple to live together before walking the aisle. Needless to say, God and His Word haven’t changed the standard just because society seemingly has no issues with it. Even the word “sin” isn’t spoken much anymore outside of church circles.  It’s just not politically correct!!

My preacher growing up, Dr. Charles Carter, was an incredible messenger from the Lord.  He could unpack even the driest of Bible verses and make them applicable to your everyday life.  I was blessed to be under his preaching as a young girl, teenager, college student and single adult.  God used so many of his sermons to grow me closer to the Lord.  He had a way of using illustrations to make his point; years later, many of those illustrations have stuck with me.  One illustration he referred to many times regarding known sin was just washing dishes.  The first few times you may pull your hands back quickly as the water is so scalding hot, but after a while your hands become accustomed to the heat. If we don’t listen to the Holy Spirit and heed his warnings and take our sin seriously, the same can happen to each of us.  The Lord has brought this to mind numerous times as I was washing dishes…or doing something in my life that I knew was wrong!!

But our standard should not be the world or those around us.  Our standard was set by God, and it was lived out by Jesus when He walked on the earth.  Our standard should be a word we don’t hear used much even in church — holiness.  Not so that we become “holier than thou” and look down on others.  But so that others see Jesus in us.  God wants us to strive to be “holy as He is holy” and “not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds” (Romans 12:1-2). 

Our holiness should not be a thing we take pride in or laud over others and look down our noses.  But it should be thought of as another way of shining the light of Jesus in a dark and perverse world that’s looking for answers and hope.  Pointing people to God should be our goal!

This Bible verses in I Peter 1 describes well what our goal should be related to holiness:

¹³ Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. ¹⁴ As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. ¹⁵ But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; ¹⁶ for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”^[a]

Of course, we can’t be holy in our own power.  We have to rely on Jesus.  But we sure can’t even attempt holiness if we are not being “obedient children, alert and fully sober.  I don’t think that part of the verse means just not to be drunk.  I think it means to face life with your eyes and mind wide open to the deeds of darkness and the sins that trip us up.

How we view our sin makes a huge difference in whether or not we do something about it.  Do we justify it and brush it off as “no big deal” because the world says so?

I know this post is so long already.  Thank you for hanging in there and reading it.  But God just brought this story to mind.  I’m going to change a few of the details so I don’t divulge if any of you know the actual people.

A precious gal I know married her childhood sweetheart.  They seemed made for one another and had similar backgrounds.  Both were believers in Jesus, and their families were Christians as well.  Everyone was thrilled with their union!  But a short time into the marriage, she realized he had a separate P.O. box.  Soon, she learned that this “secret” mail station was intentional as he received pornographic material on a regular basis. When she confronted him about this “secret sin”, he was defensive.  He refused to give it up.  Somehow, she managed to convince him to attend marriage counseling with their pastor.  Needless to say, this issue of pornography came up, as well as his deceiving her, and the lack of trust the entire scenario created.  Still, again, this young man, refused to give up this sin of addiction!  I’m sure his parents tried to intervene as well.  Suffice it to say, this one sin broke up their marriage.  And the pastor told her she was justified to leave him over this issue (I couldn’t agree more with the pastor, but that’s not my point.  Please stay with me, even if you don’t agree).  This young man dug his heels in and refused to listen to a litany of people… godly counsel from a pastor, his family and people in authority over him who wanted the best for him, his fairly new wonderful wife who loved him dearly – – and especially the Lord.  God tried to get his attention in numerous ways.  I think God started out being merciful and patient, but when this young man didn’t heed warnings, God turned up the heat.  I’m so saddened to say this man had a horrific accident and ended up being a paraplegic!!  In my opinion, he could’ve avoided this huge consequence by being obedient.  But doing life his way was more important.  He was bent on rebellion.  In my opinion, God only gave him the consequences he earned.  Do you agree?

One last verse, and I close.  I don’t have this one memorized, but the older I get the more the Holy Spirit brings it to mind.  It’s become a favorite.

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Holding on to my sin of watching soap operas was definitely entangling me!  It was as if I was trying to run down the street and catch up with the Lord (while He is far ahead), but I have cords wrapped around my feet, legs, arms and face.  Can you imagine a runner trying to compete in a race with all that tripping him up or impeding his pace?  That’s what we do, friend, when we try to run this Christian life with known sins in our life.  We become immobile.  We’re just spinning our wheels, becoming more and more frustrated…not to mention, not gaining any ground.

Cut the cords of disobedience today!

I’ve struggled more with this post to get my thoughts down.  I think the main reason is that I feel the urgency from the Lord that someone is struggling with sin.  Perhaps many of you.

Face it today…call it out for what it is…cut it out of your life through the power of the Holy Spirit, and be free.  Running and making ground in the Christian race of life is exciting when you can make an impact (through the power of the Holy Spirit) and bring glory to God!!!  I pray you will decide to submit to Him and reach for the “abundant life” today! 

If you still aren’t sure, read the quote below and think if it isn’t true from your own life and experiences.  It sure is in mine.

Written with love and prayers…

“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay. ”