RATIONALIZATION
When
I talk to people about sin, they don't usually sing "I've been redeemed".
Instead, they response is usually: "I sin all the time". Even Hank
Hanegraaff, radio's Bible Answer Man himself, has been guilty of
rationalization; especially that one. "Please be patient with me - God isn't
finished with me yet." Keith Green said:
"This statement is really a horrible replacement for I'm sorry. It puts the blame on the wrong person, the reason I'm such a creep is because God isn't finished with me yet."
It's hard enough to
resist temptation without giving the devil extra ammunition in cute little
couplets. Too many people are helping the devil do his dirty work. He
whispers an excuse in a pastor's ear, who then shouts it from the pulpit -
or something worse. Adding insult to injury, they proudly imply that it's
God's fault, because "God hasn't finished with me yet". Adam blamed Eve, Eve
blamed the serpent. One would think that was bad enough; but now God, our
blameless heavenly Father, is implicated as well.
I refuse to make
excuses. If I sin, at the least I must take responsibility for my actions.
It is bad enough that I have sinned even after being saved; why aggravate
the situation by making excuses? Some have gone so far as to suggest that it
is good for Christians to sin. One theologian actually declared that:
"Sometimes we must drink more, sport, recreate ourselves - even sin a little
- to spite the Devil, so that we may leave no place for troubling our
conscience with trifles." This is outrageous! Sin doesn't spite the Devil;
sin spites God. The Devil introduced sin into the world, and he still holds
the title as tempter. One could just as well say that we should kill
Americans to spite Sudan Hussein! It's ridiculous.
Lead Astray
In II Corinthians,
Paul clearly related the origin of these rationalizations: the serpent
tempting mans' deceitful heart.
"I am afraid that,
just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning,
your minds may somehow be lead astray from your
sincere and pure devotion to the Lord."( II Cor. 11:3) "Did God really
say?... No, you won't surely die". A cursory look around us makes it obvious
that the devil is still whispering in people's ears today: "You're only
human"; "You have to sin"; "You can't be practically righteous". While these
quotes are not found in the Bible, they can certainly be found on the lips
of people who have been lead astray from their sincere and pure devotion to
Christ. Instead, we need to be quoting from Romans 6, declaring: "I have
been set free from sin and have become a slave to righteousness." Even more
so, we ought to be thinking of Jesus saying, "If you love me, obey my
commands." If we do, we'll find that we won't be lead astray.
The Devil's Schemes
Paul
stated the reason for putting on the armor; that being, so we can take a
stand against the Devil's schemes. These schemes often involve excuses, and
several facts are obvious in all of the ones discussed. All had a doctrinal
basis to them, and all were distortions of the Gospel message. The excuses
that John was addressing in first John, seem to have been entrenched in the
very language of the Gospel which he wrote. The recipients of his letter
used a lot of his terminology, claimed to know God, abide in Jesus, and walk
in the Light, yet they denied the ethical implications. He said "The man who
says "I know him"(evidently some were) but does not do what he commands is a
liar, and the truth is not in him."(1 John 2:4) He said "Dear children let
no one no one lead you astray (evidently some were trying) he who does what
is right is righteous even as he is righteous." (1 John 3:7) Some were
teaching that one could be righteous without living righteously they took
biblical words and poured convoluted meanings into them. John passionately
said don't be taken in by this, it's a deception. He said "test the spirits
to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out
into the world." (1 John 4:1). Don't be taken in by the Devils schemes.
The excuses I've
mentioned are primarily in two categories: one where sin is still called
sin, but the prohibition against its indulgence is lifted (such as in Romans
6), and the other are those excuses that seem to escape the tag of sin
altogether (where we find the Corinthians). These are the two main modes
within the Church and the world. One says, "Yes, it is wrong; but I have to
do it anyway". The other says, "It's not sin. It's normal - even good to
partake in it. Either way, the omission or the commission is still done. I
would put someone like Hank Hanegraaff in the first category, since he
admits that it is a sin for us to omit doing something which we should do,
but maintains that we have no choice but to do it anyway.
Many homosexuals use
the second category, claiming: "God made me this way", "We are not under the
Law", etc. These excuses are plainly rationalizations, as they are an
attempt to justify conduct to themselves and others by substituting a
plausible explanation for the real, but considered unacceptable, reason."
I do not think we
would be wrong to say that we must take our stand against rationalizations,
considering them the Devil's schemes. This is reflected in many statements
by Jay Adams, one of the most well-known Christian counselors. Commenting on
the word "can't", he refers to I Corinthians 10:13, stating:
"Most Christians who come in for counseling use speech studded with the words 'can't.' A client's language not only indicates what he thinks, but also influences the way he acts and reacts. If Christians continually say, in effect, 'I can't do all that Christ asks me to do,' instead of saying, 'I can do all things that Christ requires me to do,' they soon believe their own rebellious lie. The lie is so fragrantly rebellious because of the nature of the promise; it is based upon the faithfulness of God. Paul introduces the promise with the words, 'God is faithful. . .' The promise that God will not allow Christians to be tested beyond their capacity is as certain as God's nature itself . . . the use of certain words must be counteracted, because words are not only indicative of, but also influence thinking, attitudes and behavior." (132-133)
The Sword of the Spirit
It
is my aim to follow the Apostolic example in dealing with the excuses that
are rampant today. The Apostles did not allow them to run free without being
challenged. We cannot make decisions for other people. But we can address
their faulty reasoning, thereby taking up the sword of the spirit and
demolishing every argument and pretension that sets itself up against the
knowledge of God. In the second great awakening, Charles Finney made this a
priority because he saw that "every sinner hides behind some darling little
lie." He aimed to hunt them out of all their refuges so they would see that
the only real refuge is found in Christ. This obviously was not the only
factor in the great revivals that followed, but the record stands that it
was an important factor.
I make one final plea.
Jesus admonished Peter with these words: "If you love me, feed my sheep".
For the sake of the elect, I ask for that we feed them no more lies and
excuses. In Christ we are called to live a life of love; a life worthy of
the Gospel. We all need to search our hearts and ask if we have been
deceiving ourselves or others.
"In order to secure the ends, which as Christians we are bound to seek, we must in form, and spirit, and measure, harmonize with Christianity. If we would bring weapons from the Christian Armory and wield them for the reformation of men, we must wage the war, and carry it on as Christianity directs. We are not to ask, that Christianity may conform herself to our dictates, and follow through our maneuvers. She is, and of right ought to be, principal in the onset. We must yield to her wisdom, follow her march. The Church desiring the removal of public evils, and the substitution in their place of the blessings of a Christianized morality must come to the conflict against sin with the banner of the cross floating above her, and in the most quiet and childlike subordination of her leader; she must take unto herself the whole armor of God . . . Then and only then will her triumph be sure, and her victories blessed. Laboring thus in harmony with the gospel, we stamp the impression on what we do, and our work becomes as indestructible as the genius of Christianity itself."
(1837 American Home Missionary Society, 503)
_________________________________________________________________Follow the ASV. Paul's perturbation (lest; see 2 Cor 2:7) was enhanced by a parallel (as the serpent beguiled Eve; cf. Gen 3:4,13) which, in the case of the Corinthians, could cause a similar perversion (your minds should be corrupted). The verb beguiled represents a compound word (exapatao) which conveys the idea of utter or complete deception (cf. 1 Tim 2:14). On minds, see 2 Cor 3:14. The Greek of the last half reads thus: your thoughts should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward the Christ (Plummer).
(from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1962 by Moody Press)
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