Comparative Sin
"Look, it's not THAT bad."
This direct response given by someone dear to me, at first seemed rational, until I realized the implications of such a statement.
Does an abuse, obstruction of justice, or deviance from a law of life become allowable because in relation to a felonious act it is "Not that bad"?
Has the continual propellance of crime in our daily experiences caused us to settle for victimization that is "Not that bad"?
On a plain closer to home, let us consider a student who copies a friend's homework assignment. When confronted about this behavior, the student declares with righteous indignation, "Well, I didn't copy off an exam! This isn't that bad." The teacher is seen as the bad guy because he or she doesn't drop the issue based on this defense. Unfortunately, this scenario is all too common in the realm of education, especially at the college level.
Does God view life this way? I certainly hope not. Yet, we carry this ideology into the spiritual realm.
"Oh, come on, Jesus, looking at John's hot wife isn't so bad. I didn't sleep with her. Besides, she shouldn't dress like that when she is outside. It's not my fault.'
Do you think God will accept that answer and say, "You're right David, she shouldn't have dressed like that, and you did refrain from having sex with her when you could. You're off the hook."?
The lack of responsibility running rampant in society is due, I believe, partially to the fact that people get away with it. Where is the accountability? When no one is held accountable, sin increases. After all, why should anyone change their behavior if it doesn't cost them anything?
Another issue involved in all of this is that tolerating a wrongful behavior is the loving thing to do. After all, we all make mistakes, don't we? Surely we should give mercy and a good talking too to someone, but nothing harsher than that, because we don't want to be a contributor to a low self esteem. I am not mocking here, only making a point.
Which is more loving; to overlook bad behavior and not let someone feel bad for their actions or love them enough to stop them from themselves when they are hurting themselves or others? Would you want to be friends with a person who respects your opinion because they have been held accountable for showing disrespect in the past, or with a bully who has not been reprimanded for his behavior? Who wins in the end? The respecting individual will most likely do better in the world than the bully. So what favors are we showing by tolerating bad behavior, especially when it is shown to us? Businesses thrive when built on priciples such as respect, especially for their employees. The employees work out of love for their boss and business and go the extra mile, whereas those under the hand of a disrespectful bully, work out of fear and many times only work the bare minimun.
"Look, it wasn't that bad."
I can hear those words. Though infractions of life vary in severity, they do not vary in "wrongness." They are either right or wrong. To give into this mindset is to fall into a manipulation that changes the boundaries of what is right and wrong. The Bible warns severely about this.
The mercy I decided to show the person I spoke of in the beginning concerning our discussion was to keep the issue between the two of us. However, he is being held accountable for his actions and must face the consequences of his choice. If I do not do that, then what was "Not That Bad" will eventually become "Out of Control" as it travels to the next levels undeterred.
May God Give us Grace and Wisdom...
Beth
This direct response given by someone dear to me, at first seemed rational, until I realized the implications of such a statement.
Does an abuse, obstruction of justice, or deviance from a law of life become allowable because in relation to a felonious act it is "Not that bad"?
Has the continual propellance of crime in our daily experiences caused us to settle for victimization that is "Not that bad"?
On a plain closer to home, let us consider a student who copies a friend's homework assignment. When confronted about this behavior, the student declares with righteous indignation, "Well, I didn't copy off an exam! This isn't that bad." The teacher is seen as the bad guy because he or she doesn't drop the issue based on this defense. Unfortunately, this scenario is all too common in the realm of education, especially at the college level.
Does God view life this way? I certainly hope not. Yet, we carry this ideology into the spiritual realm.
"Oh, come on, Jesus, looking at John's hot wife isn't so bad. I didn't sleep with her. Besides, she shouldn't dress like that when she is outside. It's not my fault.'
Do you think God will accept that answer and say, "You're right David, she shouldn't have dressed like that, and you did refrain from having sex with her when you could. You're off the hook."?
The lack of responsibility running rampant in society is due, I believe, partially to the fact that people get away with it. Where is the accountability? When no one is held accountable, sin increases. After all, why should anyone change their behavior if it doesn't cost them anything?
Another issue involved in all of this is that tolerating a wrongful behavior is the loving thing to do. After all, we all make mistakes, don't we? Surely we should give mercy and a good talking too to someone, but nothing harsher than that, because we don't want to be a contributor to a low self esteem. I am not mocking here, only making a point.
Which is more loving; to overlook bad behavior and not let someone feel bad for their actions or love them enough to stop them from themselves when they are hurting themselves or others? Would you want to be friends with a person who respects your opinion because they have been held accountable for showing disrespect in the past, or with a bully who has not been reprimanded for his behavior? Who wins in the end? The respecting individual will most likely do better in the world than the bully. So what favors are we showing by tolerating bad behavior, especially when it is shown to us? Businesses thrive when built on priciples such as respect, especially for their employees. The employees work out of love for their boss and business and go the extra mile, whereas those under the hand of a disrespectful bully, work out of fear and many times only work the bare minimun.
"Look, it wasn't that bad."
I can hear those words. Though infractions of life vary in severity, they do not vary in "wrongness." They are either right or wrong. To give into this mindset is to fall into a manipulation that changes the boundaries of what is right and wrong. The Bible warns severely about this.
The mercy I decided to show the person I spoke of in the beginning concerning our discussion was to keep the issue between the two of us. However, he is being held accountable for his actions and must face the consequences of his choice. If I do not do that, then what was "Not That Bad" will eventually become "Out of Control" as it travels to the next levels undeterred.
May God Give us Grace and Wisdom...
Beth
posted by beth at 10:36 AM
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