May | 2007 | duhpanda's Xanga Site

Ever hear those words before? Ever have those words cut you deep? Ever have those words keep you up at night or guilt you into doing things you shouldn’t be doing?

We’d all like to think we’re good people, esp. those of us who are Believers and actually try to live a righteous life… but not true. Reality is, we’re sinners. Reality is that cheating on your taxes is a sin just like murder is a sin. Now, don’t get all excited and respond with your opinions that murder and cheating on taxes are not the same thing because i know that. What i’m saying is, a sin is a sin and just one sin is enough to damn you to the lake of fire.

Having that disclaimer, knowing what’s right and not doing it is also a sin. The obvious sins are in the 10 commandments but I’m talking about those “gray” areas Christians love to debate about. Yeah, I have to agree that there are “gray” areas, but for me, it should be black and white. Other people should have black and white standards for themselves but not judge because someone’s black and white standards are not the same as mine.

For example, a recovering alcoholic shouldn’t drink. If I was a recovering alcoholic, I should set a standard for myself that drinking is in the black. BUT for someone who is not an alcoholic, drinking isn’t necessarily a sinful act, but I, as a recovering alcoholic (hypothetically), should not judge that other individual for having a drink. Make sense?

Anyways, as a Believer who is supposedly “mature” in the faith, if I were to act in disbelief or doubt God when I clearly know that He is able, wouldn’t that consitute something sinful? If I clearly know that God wants a certain something for me and I disobey, doesn’t that consitute a sinful act?

At least for me, I believe it does. I am convinced that a conscious act against God’s desire is a sinful act, esp. when I know scripture well enough and am aware. So, in this way, I have been living a sinful life and becaue I consciously chose to live that way, God allowed my mind to be given over to depravity… i.e., I’ve chosen to not wear the “helmet of salvation” that protects my head or hold up the shield of faith. By no means do I believe I’ve lost my salvation, but what I’m saying is, I’ve left myself vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks and that’s being given over to a deprave mind.