The first thing I teach our elders to say when people are seeking advice is, "What does the Bible say about this?" Without the Bible, there are only platitudes, philosophy, my subjective feelings and flawed EXCUSES. Which one of us hasn't tried to justify ourselves in some sin?
Here are just a few of the excuses I've heard as a pastor:
- I know what the Bible says, but I have prayed and God has given me peace about this.
- Doesn't God want me to be happy?
- We sinned sexually, so now I'm obligated to marry this man even though I'm not sure if he's a believer
- You don't know what it's like to suffer as long as I have. My situation is different.
- I know what the Bible says, but don't you think Jesus would understand? Surely, He wouldn't make such demands in this special case.
Here's what I know about myself and about human nature: once I've headed down this path in my thoughts, it's only a matter of time before I act on it. It is human to excuse ourselves and it's Satan's great trick to help us justify those excuses. It's the oldest play in the book: "Did God really say you must not from any tree in the Garden?" (Gen. 3.1) Yes, Satan was twisting what God said, but he was also playing to Eve's self-justification.
Know the Book. Live the book. That is the way to stand when temptation or storms come. What did God say? That is the question.
Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. (Luke 6:47-48 ESV)
