The Cool Sins

"Is there anything you're struggling with that you want me to pray about?"

~~ "Well, I've really been struggling with being impatient for God to work His plan in my life."
~~ "Actually, yes. I'm constantly tempted to doubt God's power to solve my problems."
~~ "Pray that I would be more diligent in my prayer life."

We've heard (and probably given) those and dozens of other similar prayer requests whenever we or a small group leader ask that question. The question is innocent enough; but the truth is, we're too afraid to be honest and vulnerable. It's not that those struggles aren't valid--they certainly are--but they are merely the "right answer" to the question.

After all, as Christians, we're not supposed to struggle with temptations to lie, cheat, hate, or lust.We don't give a second thought to sins of laziness or gluttony...as long as they're not coupled with alcohol or drug addictions. We think you're a saint if you can admit your selfishness...as long as we can turn around and praise you for your service in the church that makes you appear selfless. Worry is okay...we all do it and there's not much you can do about it anyway. We find it easy to overlook a girl and guy sleeping together, but the judgment comes down if a guy does the same thing with another guy.

WHY?!

Why do we do this? Why do we justify some sins and condemn others, almost arbitrarily? Why are some sins "cool" to confess...while others, if you admitted that you struggle with them, will get you shunned? Why are some sins overlooked while, if you struggled with one in the past, even if you've overcome it now, you are a "second class Christian"?

The only answer that I can come up with is human nature. Humans have been comparing themselves to each other since there was more than one human. But we don't just want to compare: we want to come out on top.

Cain and Abel is a classic example. Cain compared his gifts to Abel's, and instead of blaming his own heart condition for God's rejection of his offering, he took it out on Abel.

Think about the prodigal son and his brother. The older brother condemns the prodigal son for all of his terrible sins, but in his arrogance and judgment, he is in fact the worse of the two, because the prodigal son asked and received forgiveness.

I could come up with more examples, but you get the point. Like the Pharisees of Jesus' time, we like to pick and choose which sins are "okay" and which sins will get you stoned (well, we don't stone people anymore...). The Pharisees knew they could handle keeping the Sabbath holy, so they made that a rule: no working on the Sabbath. At all. Period. They knew it would be easy not to kill anyone; so don't murder. And on and on they went: obey the laws and everything will be fine.

What they didn't understand was that every single one of them had sinned. Even if they'd never gotten drunk or committed adultery or killed anyone or worked on the Sabbath or blasphemed God's name, they were still sinners. They didn't love those they didn't agree with, they didn't care for the disadvantaged, they only made sacrifices when it would bring them glory.

But are we any different? "Oh sure, I'll serve in church. Just make sure everyone can see me serve food/lead worship/run sound/stack chairs." "I'll pray for us! I have the perfect words to use!" "Jesus said to love your enemies, but He didn't mean that girl who talks behind my back or that guy who picks on me all the time."

The worst part about having a distinction between "bad sins" and "okay sins" is that, as long as we're within the realm of "okay sins", we can feel good.

How wrong is that? Jesus clearly said, “No one is good except God alone." (Mark 10:18)

Look, I don't care that the only sins you've ever committed are "cool" sins; YOU ARE NOT GOOD. You are a SINNER. You need GOD'S GRACE.

Maybe you know that. Maybe you feel tremendous amounts of guilt for your sins. As hard as I'm sure that is, you're closer than the rest of us. The prodigal son knew he had to be forgiven. He came back to the father and asked forgiveness, and his slate was wiped clean. If you are saved by grace, then you don't have to feel guilt anymore. You're clean and free.
But the older brother saw no need for forgiveness. He'd been the perfect son.  But he needed forgiveness just as much as his younger brother.

If you relate more to the older brother, know that you're not alone. But also know that it's not okay. It's not better than the prodigal son. Before forgiveness and grace, both brothers would stand on equal ground.

Friends, if you were a prodigal son or daughter, then I am glad you are home. But for the older brothers and sisters...we are in a dangerous place. Satan will attack us with temptations not to murder or adultery but to apathy and numbness. In order to fight him, you have to recognize that you are not good; that you are in fact hopelessly wicked. Until we get there, we can't make progress.

No sin is "cool". We ALL need God's grace. And God gives it to us unreservedly.