Are there sins that are permissible? We’d like to believe there is, right? We’ve simply created the idea that there’s such a thing as permissible sin. We’ve convinced ourselves that there are sins that qualify as acceptable. We’ve come up with clever “loopholes” and explanations as to why some sins are justifiable. Christianity is no longer authentic in continual striving to be more like Christ. Christianity is more blending to become like the world and liked by the world. There is no set-apartness within us. So what do we do? We’ve deemed these as permissible:
- over-sexualizing the up and coming generation
- validating impurity consumed through our eyes and ears
- feeding the sensual appetites of the body
- idolizing politics, social media “likes,” status and fame
- justifying enmity and hostility among those who think differently
- refusing the release from the grip having on anger and bitterness
- supporting the retaliation in fits of anger
- teaming up on jealousy and envy among the body of Christ
- affirming unhealthy competitiveness that lead to division
- support, approval and glorifying the state of intoxication
- accepting and engaging in orgies and sexual indulgence promoted in TV shows, movies, songs
If you’ve been following along this year, you’ve probably caught on that I have belabored on several of these permissible sins. My over-emphasis on these topics ties greatly to this up-and-coming generation. It’s frightening, honestly. No, it’s not a matter of controlling and censorship of free will, rather it’s revealing the reality that we’ve lost our understanding of Christianity. The church is skillfully becoming the modern-day Sodom and Gomorrah convincing generations past that progressive Christianity is biblical. We are told you simply need to do and be good to make it to heaven. The gospel of salvation is diluted. We’ve emphasized moral code diminishing Christianity to moralistic religion. A religion that subliminally promotes permissible sins.
Children, pre-teens, and teenagers alike are over-sexualized by their parents. TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Stories appear harmless on the surface. When we dig a little deeper into these playful videos we see children dancing to songs that glorify sexual indulgence, profanity, drugs, and alcohol. We’ve convinced ourselves that songs promoting adultery, fornication, idolatry, hatred, wrath, murder, and drunkenness’ are “okay.” The “beat hits different” somehow grants a pass to the gate of our ears and hearts.
These seemingly minor passes have led Christians to become open to liberal ideologies. We’ve taken the mission of Christ reaching those who are lost to becoming like the lost. We go to clubs, drink in drunkenness, dance the dances, and have mirrored the imagery of those who we are called to witness. We’ve become salt that’s trampled on, and are dull lamps slowly losing our purpose to shine. Churches and Christ-followers are appealing more to culture than they are to biblical truth.
There is no sin in having fun, but if having fun compromises our eyes, ears, mouth, body, and heart then we’ve lost what authentic Christianity is. Authentic Christianity practices truth. It sows into God’s word and kingdom. Authentic Christianity requires being set apart. What you and I have failed to realize is every sin that we entertain builds on each other. The likelihood of having a guilt conscience disappears as sin becomes easier and easier and our hearts become less aware of what we are doing, saying, listening to you, and entertaining.
Here’s what the Bible says,
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. - Galatians 5:19-21
What we’ve consumed through social media, the conversations we engage in, the music we listen to, and the shows we binge watch eventually become who we are. We live out what we’ve consumed. The more we are comfortable with little passes of idle talk and profanity the easier it gets to continue into the hole of sin. Galatians 6:9 says,
For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
I will leave you with this. There is no harm in having fun. There’s no harm in living a great life. There is harm however when we dilute Christianity to push personal agenda, self-gratification, and our narrative of rightness. If you are a Christ-follower, have you made an allowance of sin? Are you simply saying you are a Christian only to look like the rest of the world? God’s fire within us changes our longings. Those longings should be the desire for greater purity and purpose.
What are you sowing into? What do you spend your time doing? What have you allowed yourself to believe are harmless permissible sins(s)? What are you encouraging those around you to believe are passes in Christianity?