I am an avid reader, and I usually have about five books that I am reading all at the same time! Sometimes these are fiction books, but right now, I am overwhelmed with spiritual material! There’s the book we’re working on for Bible study on Daniel (by Dr. Warren Wiersbe) – excellent book if you are trying to study Daniel! Then, I am working on a discipleship program in which I am studying the book of Colossians. My dad also recently gave me a book that I have been dying to read – Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World by Ken Ham and Steve Ham. And being the book-lover that I am, I simply couldn’t say no to the book club that our church was starting on Tuesday or Thursday nights!
We are covering the book Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges, and I have to admit that this book has brought me under serious conviction. Bridges gets right to the heart of the matter by saying, “We see. . .that sin is a despising of the law of God. But we also see that to despise God’s law is to despise Him. . .Therefore, when I indulge in any of the so-called acceptable sins, I am not only despising God’s law but, at the same time, I am despising God Himself” (p. 28).
Have you ever thought about that? That any time you sin, you are showing God that you despise Him? I know that you’re probably thinking that he must be covering sins like adultery or stealing. But no. He covers topics such as gossip, frustration, anxiety, anger, and jealousy (just to name a few). I have to admit that I was hoping at least ONE of the chapters wouldn’t apply to me, but I find myself guilty of each and every one of the sins he calls “respectable.”
Think about it. Isn’t it true that accepting these small sins can lead to the “bigger” sins? How does murder start? Oftentimes, isn’t jealousy involved? How about gossip? The Bible says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits” (Proverbs 18:21). Gossip has been known to destroy peoples’ lives! And we call this a “respectable” sin?
Bridges doesn’t waste time beating around the bush but addresses these “respectable” sins for what they are – sin. Ugly, corruptible, blasphemous sin. Yet he doesn’t just leave us feeling hopeless. He reminds us of our loving Savior, who died on the cross to bear our sins – even the “respectable” ones – so that we don’t have to live without hope but can lean on Jesus Christ for redemption from these sins.
If you want to understand more about respectable sins, I encourage you to read Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges. But come prepared for conviction and renewing of your spirit!
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