Choosing to sin

     People generally don't want to talk about this intentionally choosing to sin.  Especially if they are Christian and really especially if they are pastors or Christian leaders. (Not all pastors are Christian.)  Not all Christians are Christian either.  Sometimes it's difficult to sort out.  The general truth of the title isn't difficult though.  James 4:17 says, "If we know something is wrong to do and we do it; we sin."  Simple enough.  WAIT!  What about..... or..... maybe...  Sometimes we are faced with a dilemma where we choose to sin.  Would I lie about something in order to save someone's life?  Yes, been there and done that.  Would I act in a way that isn't a Christian reflection in order to bring a situation peace.  Yes, been there and done that too.  You see, in some professions there are demands that we be flexible enough to keep the objective in focus.  The objective is to do no harm and to not let others do harm.  The objective is to correct and instruct.  The objective is to bring about a chain of events by which the participants can see Jesus at work in their world whether they know Him or not.  People generally don't want to talk about these "variations" in the proper Christian life.
     For instance, a missionary from Africa once entered into a discussion I was having about polygamy and the Biblical invective to have one spouse.  He proposed this:  He goes into this village where there is a central hut which belongs to the chief.  The chief's hut is surrounded by 10 other huts all with paths between the chief's hut and the 10.  The 10 huts belong to the chief's 10 wives and their children.  Should he, the missionary, tell the newly converted chief that he can only have one wife?  If that is the choice and polygamy isn't supported then the remaining 9 wives and their children will be cast out of the tribe left to be prostitutes in order to feed their children and themselves.  So, do we tell the chief to do what is right in regards to Scripture or do we embrace the whole family (Chief plus 10 wives and children bring salvation to them all?  What do you do?  Do you condone the Chief's choice of 10 wives or not? 
     The world is full of dilemma's.  The motorist who uses his car to block the path of another vehicle in order to save a child's life but causes the accident that injures others.  The mother or father who yell, scream, and do whatever they have to in order to stop that child from running into the street letting anger and fear be their dominating impulse.  You have dilemmas of your own.  So do I.  They are all individual and specific for each of us.  A Christian pastor hatching a plot to kill Hitler for the greater good of protecting mankind.  Right?  Wrong?  Do we just let everything go wherever it goes and let God sort it out?  Sometimes and sometimes not.
     Much to the chagrin of religious people everywhere the Bible lists only 2 sins.  The first is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.  That sin comes about when we know that Jesus is who he said he is, did what he said he would do, and offers you salvation only for you to reject his offer.  This is the sin that leads to death.  ALL other sin is forgivable.  ALL.  Sinning doesn't make it right.  However, we need to acknowledge that we are to love the sinner but hate the sin (that goes for ourselves as well).  I once heard a pastor say that all homosexuals were condemned to hell because of their sexual choice.  I made an appointment with him and presented this scenario.  He and his friend "John" grew up on the same block, went to the same church, gave their lives to Jesus a an early age, went to the same college and participated in all the same Christian activities.  Both went on to seminary and became pastors.  This pastor married and had children while his friend did not.  One day John comes to him and tells him that he has a secret.  This pastor knowing that his friend loves Jesus tells him to speak freely.  John tells him that he is a homosexual who has been abstinate his whole life and not engaged that lifestyle.  I asked the pastor;  "Is John any less a Christian now that you know this?"  He crumpled in his chair.  The next Sunday the pastor confessed his sin and preached on loving the sinner and hating the sin.  There are times when we are caught in dilemmas.
     Choosing to sin is not good.  I just want to go on record with that.  I've done way too much choosing to sin and encouraging others to do the same over the years.  I'm guilty.  I deserve the condemnation that the Bible lays out for you and I.  Yet, the grace of God prevails and I remain in Christ.  It's not an easy world for any of us.  Your decision to cheat on your taxes, steal from your employer, go over the speed limit, fail to come to a complete stop at a stop sign and a thousand other daily encounters with life tell me that you too are all to much human.  You and I have chosen to sin.  We can also choose to not sin.  What will life's dilemmas bring your way that will throw you into a state of panic?  Will the choice be accepting the decision of others in spite of your knowing it is wrong?  God wants us to choose to not sin.  He has a plan he is working out.  There is no easy answer to all of life's dilemmas.  Forgiveness is a good thing.  Don't over use it.