One effective way Satan gains power over us and our loved ones is through minimizing sin. He takes advantage of our human tendency to justify our thoughts, behaviors, and actions. I don\u2019t want to think of myself as a sinner, and Satan is eager to reinforce these thoughts in my head: \u201cI\u2019m a good person,\u201d \u201cI\u2019m only human,\u201d \u201cI have no other choice,\u201d and \u201cIt makes me happy. How can it be wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He probably uses the same tactic on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As we become desensitized to sin, we fail to respond to our sinful behavior, or others\u2019 wrongdoing in a godly way. We minimize it, justify it, or simply ignore it and go on our way, thinking we are unaffected by it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In My Utmost for His Highest<\/em>, Oswald Chambers observes, \u201cThe penalty of sin is confirmation in sin. \u2026 No struggling nor praying will enable you to stop doing some things, and the penalty of sin is that gradually you get used to it and do not know that it is sin\u201d (March16 Reading). Only the Holy Spirit can free us from this snare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to relationships, we may minimize sin in numerous ways. I might say, \u201cI don\u2019t want to hurt my daughter\u2019s feelings, so I won\u2019t say anything about her decision to take male hormone treatments.\u201d Or \u201cI don\u2019t want to cause friction in the family, so I\u2019ll attend my nephew\u2019s same-sex wedding even though I believe it dishonors God.\u201d Those who struggle with gender identity may excuse their actions by saying, \u201cIt\u2019s only clothing. What\u2019s wrong with me dressing as the opposite sex?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Any of us can justify an action and twist it to make sense in our mind. But does this make our behavior right? Does this mean God is okay with our sin? No. It only means we know how to excuse our actions with as little guilt as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When I began digging into my Bible to see what God said about my dad wearing women\u2019s clothing, the Holy Spirit led me to this verse: \u201cA woman must not wear men\u2019s clothing, nor a man wear women\u2019s clothing, for the Lord your God detests anyone who does this\u201d (Deuteronomy 22:5 NIV). Detests<\/em> is a strong word. How could God be any clearer than that? God loathes cross-dressing and related behaviors. They are sinful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When I read that verse, I knew in my heart my dad\u2019s behavior was wrong. It wasn\u2019t a matter of me judging him and just thinking his behavior was wrong. His behavior was unacceptable to God. God never intended for men and women to pretend to be the other sex. And He never condones this behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To overcome our tendency to minimize sin, we can follow David\u2019s example in Psalm 139:23\u201324 and make this our daily prayer: \u201cSearch me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life\u201d (NLT).<\/p>\n