Sinning Against Sin

 

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Ephesians 4:26-27

 

Sometimes there is a sin against us that seems so bad that we don’t stop to consider if our response is sinful.  We reason that if such a wrong has been done, how could God choose to judge our  But, I am saying that there are godly ways to confront sin and when we choose ungodly responses, we can expect God to react the same way to our own sin as He does to those who are sinning against us.

Some who have been hurt in a relationship seem to think that they should receive blessings in return for suffering, not faith and obedience. Such unbiblical thinking has to change in order to resolve problems in marriages, in raising children, work relationships, and in order to live a life that pleases God and brings blessing.

Many of today’s Christians seem to have abandoned Old Testament teaching. Though I don’t have space to argue this point, the short defense is that Jesus Himself said He came to fulfill the law, not abolish it (Matthew 5:17). Not one jot or tittle will pass away until all is fulfilled.

Deuteronomy 12:28 says, “Be careful to obey all these words that I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God.”  Jesus said if we love Him we will do these words that He gave us. (John 15:14)

There are several other verses in the Bible that give us the same hope of blessing when we obey the Lord. It does not say if everything is going well and we do what is right , He will bless us. Any time, any season, whether we are in good times or difficult times, when we obey God He will bless us.

Saying it is easier than doing it, especially if someone sins against us over and over. We are permitted to speak the truth in love when this is happening. We do not have to sit back, submit to the sin of another and pray for him or her to change while we are hurt again and again. We can seek the help of God in prayer. We may seek the help of leaders in the church. We can call civil authorities if the situation calls for it. We may even ask our friends or a Biblical counselor to bear our burdens with us as they pray for us and encourage us as we go through the battle.

But we cannot sin in response and expect God to wink and let it go.

Leslie Vernick has written a book called, “The Emotionally Destructive Marriage.” In it she talks about building four core strengths to give women hope as they deal with a destructive relationship. The first is that we have to be committed to the truth and reality of our situation. #2 is that we must be open to growth, instruction, and feedback. #3 is to be responsible for myself and respectful toward others without dishonoring myself. The last is to be empathic and compassionate toward others without enabling people to continue to abuse or disrespect us. The book goes on to instruct women how to do these things.

If you or someone you know is in an emotionally destructive relationship the situation is not helped when the sin of another is responded to sinfully. The Bible gives us plenty of instruction for dealing with difficult relationships and no one I have read is as helpful as Leslie Vernick in pointing us to the Biblical way to respond to a spouse who is not only sinful, but refusing to see it or forsake it.

Our reactions are important to God and this book could be a big help for someone looking to improve a bad situation.

My Mom always taught us that 2 wrongs don’t make a right. She wasn’t quoting scripture but she was teaching biblical truth.