"There is a practice that is in epidemic form in our time and day. It is called "minimizing sin." When sin is committed, it is usually downplayed, thereby relieving the guilty party of one ounce of conviction. Resultantly, a change in lifestyle never occurs. In due time, things just continue onward as though nothing ever happened."
What is the answer to this madness? The only answer is for all to consider every wrong attitude and action as a serious offense against their Holy Creator. This is what living for God is all about.
What is the usual reaction when a person is found guilty of a wrongdoing? Isn't it justification?
In most instances, when a person is caught doing something wrong, their first reaction is to make excuses, blame someone else, or minimize the action.
What about you, O child of God? How do you react when you are caught in a sinful practice? What do you say or do when the Lord exposes your wrongdoing before others?
If you are guilty of any of the above actions, then you are guilty of "minimizing sin."
Jeremiah in Chapter 3:1-11 offers us a perfect illustration of a people who minimized sin. From this passage of Scripture, we glean three general characteristics that typify those who consider sin as a light thing.
This particular passage depicts Jeremiah prophesying to both Israel and Judah.
At first, he deals with Israel. He addresses them as "backsliding Israel" who "played the harlot with many lovers." They are said to have "polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness" and to have "gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot." They are likened to the "Arabian in the wilderness." They are accused of having a "whore's forehead," committing adultery, and refusing "to be ashamed."
Judah is called Israel's "treacherous sister." She "went and played the harlot also" and "committed adultery with stones and with stocks."
"What do all these terms mean?" How is it possible for God's people to be accused of playing the harlot and committing adultery?
Israel and Judah were "married to God". But they forsook Him and ran after many idols. Their idolatry was classified as "spiritual whoredom".
Why were they compared to an "Arabian in the desert"? Because just as the Bedouin was eager to plunder of their goods the caravans that passed by in the desert, even so was Israel fully intent on pursuing after her idols.
God offered Israel a second chance. A first husband would never show such mercy to his wife who was divorced from him and then remarried. The Scriptures tells us that it would be wrong for him to return to her for the land would be "greatly polluted."
Nonetheless, God beckoned Israel to "return again to Me." Did she do it? "No!" Verse 7 gives the sad commentary - "But she returned not."
What would possibly hold her back from such an offer of Great Mercy? I believe the answer lies in verse 9 - "And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks."
Israel's worship of idols of wood and stone instead of the Living God mattered so little to her. It was no big deal. She treated it lightly and casually. It certainly was not considered as a great offense against the Holy One of Israel.
Besides this verse illustrating her frivolous attitude, what other indications do we see in this passage that reflect a nonchalant attitude toward gross sin?
There are actually three attributes that reveal her feelings:
The Lord God asked her this question:
Jeremiah 3:4 "Wilt thou not from this time cry unto Me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth?"
In spite of her gross idolatry, Israel still claimed a relationship with God. As always, she still called Him "My father" and "the guide" of her youth. In other words, she was yet considering Him as her father, husband, or as a close friend.
Here we see her walking in spiritual whoredoms and yet presuming that all was well in her relationship with the Lord. "Never did it occur to her that her sin was causing a separation between her and her God."
Could it be that she presumed that God was still her Father and her guide because she didn't seriously consider the greatness of her offense against Him?
"Isn't this just like so many today?" They are living in Sin. They know it and many times, others know it as well. But what do they do? After practising Sin all week long, they go to Church on Sunday and lift their hands in worship and bellow out such songs as - "Heavenly Father, I appreciate You..." Or they might even sing - "You are Lord, You are Lord, You are risen from the dead, and You are Lord."
Yet many continue onward in their relationship as if their Sin is no Big Deal. They take it so lightly and think that God does, too. They never repent or feel the urge to change, simply because their Sin just isn't that Bad in their estimation! God is such a God of Love and Grace. Surely He doesn't mind a few "slips" here and there. At least, this is how they think!
Jeremiah 3:4 "Will He reserve His anger for ever? will He keep it to the end? Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest."
Do you sense their utter arrogancy here in this verse? What they were actually saying was this - "Surely God is not going to be angry for too long. After all, we aren't really that bad. This is such a little thing. He'll get over it. He'll soon forget. His anger will come to an end soon."
These people were committing spiritual adultery. They were being unfaithful to God as a wanton wife who gives herself to other lovers. They were questioning God's righteous indignation for their acts. Their playing the harlot with many lovers didn't worry them one bit. They never thought to change their behavior because this is what they loved and wanted to do. "It isn't that bad!" they said.
I wonder how many today have this same attitude. I wonder how many don't give any attention to the wrath and just judgment of God that comes their way for wrongdoing. God sends chastisement after chastisement their way, and they simply wait until the dust settles, so to speak, pick themselves up and brush themselves off with the attitude - "I made it through this one." They won't change no matter what happens because they do not consider their Sin to be any Big Deal.
Jeremiah 3:7-8 "And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto Me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also."
Judah witnessed Israel's spiritual adultery. She witnessed God's Offer of Mercy and then His Judgment extended to her sister, only to have both ignored.
How did she react? Did she fear after seeing the outcome of her sister? "No! A thousand times No!" She "feared not, but went and played the harlot also."
What does this action reveal to us? When a person considers Sin as a light thing, this attitude is swiftly transferred to others. Those seeing the compromise and loose standards are tempted to lighten up their standards and venture into the same acts of Sin.
"This attitude is so deadly because it spreads like a "wild fire" unless it is swiftly quenched by the Holy Ghost with the Awesome Fear of God."
There are questions that we must ask ourselves:
Yes, there is an epidemic nowadays that is spreading like a "wild fire." It is called "minimizing sin." Nonetheless, its poison does not have to harm us nor our families.
As the Body of Christ, we can stop it and never allow it to afflict us again.
The antidote is simple - "just consider every wrong attitude and action as a major offense before God and turn from it in godly sorrow immediately."
"It isn't that bad!" May we always agree with God in saying - "It's wicked and evil and must be immediately eradicated from our lives through repentance!" 
 Send E-mail to Russ: webslave for Christ ( russ@jesuswept.com ) with questions or comments about this web site and it's content. Last modified: Sunday, January 05, 2003 |
