Looking for Loopholes in All the Wrong Places – Part 2

Looking for Loopholes in All the Wrong Places

Part 2 – Is it still sin if I have a good reason?

Last week we started a series on our tendency to try to find “loopholes” in the Bible. This week we will talk about one of the most dangerous “loopholes” which is justifying sin based on your reason for sinning.

Webster’s dictionary defines a loophole as “a means of escape” and “an ambiguity or omission in the text through which the intent of a statute, contract, or obligation may be evaded.” If you recall from last week, we said that the Bible is the inspired word of God, and since God is perfect and timeless, so is the Bible. That is not to say that certain phrases may be imperfectly translated, but even then, we can trust the Bible. As such, these are not legitimate loopholes.

Also, as noted last week, I am not judging anyone’s behavior. I have tried everything that I discuss here to justify some of my own bad behavior. Thank God that his grace has covered my bad decisions and I am a redeemed child of the King! Since making the decision to follow Jesus with my whole heart, my mental health has vastly improved, and I have genuine peace! It is this same peace and joy that I want for others.

The other thing I want to say as we delve deeper into this topic is that God really, really loves you! Many see God as a tyrant with a gavel in his hand, waiting to crack down on anyone who makes a mistake. The truth is that God is patient and loving. He hates sin because it hurts his children. Although I typically save the music suggestions for the end, I would like to insert one here that I hope will be a blessing to you.

Let’s look now at this second “loophole”.

“The Bible has clearly said that this behavior is sin, but I have a good reason for doing it, so God will understand.”

I recall long ago sitting in a psychology class when we were presented with a moral dilemma and asked what should be done. In the example, a man had a son who was dying. The son desperately needed a medication, but it was too expensive. Should the father steal the medication to save his son? The Bible says that stealing is wrong, but is there a loophole if you’re doing it for the right reasons?

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT)

God does not tempt us. He allows us to be tempted in order to test us and strengthen us, but he does not tempt us. He wants us to trust him in all things. In the example above, there could be several outcomes if the father resists the temptation to steal and instead puts the situation in God’s hands:

God could miraculously heal the son without the medication
God could make the medication available through the generosity of another or the availability of a cheaper equivalent
The boy could die and (assuming he knows the Lord) experience the ultimate healing in Heaven at the side of Jesus where eventually both father and son will be reunited for all eternity

On the flip side, what might happen if the father decides to steal the medication?

The dad could be arrested, and the son not only doesn’t get the medication, but he loses a parent
The medication may cause permanent and debilitating side-effects
The medication may simply not work, and the boy dies anyway
The father (and possibly the son) feel shame and guilt for the crime
The son learns that stealing is ok

We live in a culture of “moral relativism” which says that whether something is morally wrong or not is really up to the individual and that no viewpoint is better than another. As human beings, we may be ok with that in certain areas, but if someone steals your purse, rapes you or a family member, or murders someone you love, we are quick to label the behavior as wrong. But if moral relativism is ok, then we have to accept these three things as ok as well, as long as the offender believes the actions to be justified.

The truth is, we all know that certain things are right and certain things are wrong. We were created in the image of God, and he instilled this basic knowledge in us. The Holy Spirit reminds us of this, and when we ignore those promptings, we feel guilt and stress. Further, trying to find justifications and “loopholes” is exhausting. We spend countless hours looking for people who will agree with us, only to feel that deep down the behavior is still wrong.

God has the higher vision, and he made rules for a reason. Sin always causes pain. Sometimes the pain is felt quickly and sharply — such as the loss of a marriage because of adultery — and sometimes it is simply the anxiety of knowing that something is wrong. Regardless, the effect builds up over time and will take a toll on our physical and emotional health and our relationships, including our relationship with our Savior.

Accepting the truth of the Bible is incredibly freeing. No longer do you have to have the constant internal debate with yourself. No longer do you have to rely on your own limited understanding to make the decision. Instead, you rely on the Creator of the Universe, who lives outside of time and knows the end from the beginning, to be your moral compass.

Repentance is a necessary piece of making the decision to accept the gift of salvation that comes only through Jesus Christ. Repentance means simply that your attitude toward sin changes such that Jesus becomes more important than sin. It doesn’t mean that you won’t still be tempted or make mistakes, but, having been forgiven, you make the decision to turn away from temptation and focus instead on your Savior.

Giving your life to Christ also means that you have a helper to overcome sin and temptation. The Holy Spirit is a powerful source of support. He wants to help you get through things and heal physically, mentally, and spiritually. You simply need to ask for his help.

If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I urge you not to wait. If you feel you need more proof of the inerrancy of the Bible and the need for a Savior, please see our section called “Why Jesus?”

For a more in-depth discussion specifically on this topic, please go to the article “Your Command” on our website.

If you missed part 1 of this series, we talked about justifying a lack of a prayer life because God already knows what we need. You can find it here: Looking for Loopholes in All the Wrong Places – Part 1.