This post will probably seem more like a book review, but in it you might be surprised and a little convicted. Jerry Bridges’ book Respectable Sins explores “small” sins that are considered socially acceptable amongst Christians. In each chapter, he explains how the specific sin seeps into our lives unnoticed, gives biblical support for naming these as serious sins, and then provides practical, biblical advice on how to turn from the sin. The structure and style are easy to read, but if you dive in, be ready for some major convictions about your life!
The chapter that struck me the most was about ungodliness. You might be wondering why ungodliness is listed as a respectable sin. Doesn’t ungodliness mean you’re a non-christian? Now ask yourself, do I truly live every moment as if the God of the Bible exists, or do I live like I am the one in charge? Bridges says that we are guilty of ungodliness in our lives if we don’t depend on God, don’t feel responsible to please God, don’t see God’s glory as our top priority, don’t crave His presence, or don’t care about committing “small” sins. I am definitely guilty of this on a regular basis!
Hopefully, now you are inspired to find some respectable sins in your own life. There are a couple of steps we can follow to evaluate our lives and root out these “respectable” sins. The first is definitely to read your Bible consistently. If you don’t know what God’s standard is, you will never be able to see how you are breaking His standard in your life. The Bible is like a mirror. When we look inside we can more accurately see our true selves, the good and the bad (Hebrews 4:12).
The second way is to meditate on the Word. It doesn’t do you any good to just read the Bible and not think about it (Joshua 1:8). A good way to meditate is to observe truths about God and truths about yourself from your Bible reading. Maybe you read a passage and you notice that God is love. Then you examine your life and see if you’ve been loving.
The third way to find sin is to pray with your Bible open. You might read your Bible, meditate on it, and be convicted of a sin in your life, but if you don’t pray to repent of the sin, it’s just a random fact that won’t change your life at all (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Repent by praying.
The fourth and final step is to make a plan to fill your life with something other than that sin (James 1:21-22). Maybe you read your Bible and you are convicted about gossiping so you repent and then choose to share positive and uplifting information to people instead of repeating the latest scandal. Or maybe you choose to talk about what you were reading in your Bible.
Read, meditate, pray, change. It seems easy enough, but there’s a reason we call them spiritual disciplines. They take work and dedication. But not to do these disciplines will keep you in a state of ungodliness. Don’t forsake the forgiving God who loves and redeems you. Obey by repenting and reap the joy of living a God glorifying life!
RESOURCE: Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges
Let no one say when he is tempted,
“I am being tempted by God,”
for God cannot be tempted with evil,
and he himself tempts no one.
But each person is tempted
when he is lured and enticed
by his own desire.
Then desire when it has conceived
gives birth to sin,
and sin when it is fully grown
brings forth death.
-James 1:13-15
Perpetual Felicities 