No Higher Calling Podcast
Respectable Sins
In 2022, we studied through “respectable sins” on the podcast. What is a respectable sin? These are sins that have been deemed “not so bad” in light of the blatant. blasphemous sins that permeate our culture. But the truth is that all sin is an affront against God and an attack on His character.
After reading the book Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges, my heart was convicted at how many of these “little sins” I have allowed to sit on the throne of my heart. These episodes walk through what God was teaching me in that season as I asked Him to shine the light of His Word in the dark places of my heart.
I pray this study will be a blessing to you!
Episode 1: Our Sin Problem & the Solution
This is the first episode in the Respectable Sins Bible study we’ll be going through during 2022. As Christians living in an increasing dark world, we often get so preoccupied with the gross sins of our culture that we neglect to deal with the subtle sins in our own hearts. The sins we will discuss together through this Bible study are not any different in the sense that they are all sins that Christ bore on the cross. They all condemned us to hell and required a perfect Lamb to be sacrificed to atone for their transgression against a holy God.
In this episode, we dive deep into our sin problem and it’s solution. We discuss …
The sinfulness of sin
The malignancy of sin
The forgiveness of sin
The repenting from sin
Personal application is made, as well as application on how we can teach our children these truths.
Episode 2: Ungodliness
“Ungodliness may be defined as living one’s everyday life with little or no thought of God, or of God’s will, or of God’s glory.” -Jerry Bridges
Do you struggle with ungodliness? If you’re like me, your first thought would be, “I’m a Christian! Of course I don’t struggle with ungodliness!” We often equate ungodliness with those who have purposely chosen to live a life in opposition to Christ. As we dig into God’s Word, I think you’ll realize, as I did, that this is more of a battle in our lives than we might think!
In this episode, we discuss …
What ungodliness is and how it differs from unrighteousness
The contrast between godliness and ungodliness
How we can live lives characterized by godliness
How we can teach our children to recognize ungodliness and flee it’s temptation
Episode 3: Anxiety, Frustration, & Worry
“… when I give way to anxiety, I am, in effect, believing that God does not care for me and that He will not take care of me in the particular circumstance that triggers my anxiety of the moment. …God’s providence may be simply defined as God’s orchestrating all circumstances and events in His universe for His glory and the good of His people.” -Jerry Bridges
This episode is part 3 in our Respectable Sins Bible study. Anxiety, frustration, and worry are sins that can so easily creep into the life of a believer. We often feel justified having these emotions because of the circumstances that tend to cause them. But anything that keeps us from becoming more like Christ is sin! I know this is an area that I’ve had to grow in myself! Much of that growth has happened during the moments when I wasn’t sure if I could go on, yet God stepped in and proved Himself faithful.
As we battle the old man, and bring our thoughts into subjection, we focus on verses like Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” To understand this promise is to trust that God works all things for His glory and for our good, even when we cannot see how that will be accomplished! In the words of Amy Carmichael, “in acceptance lieth peace.” Yield this area to God and find the peace He desires for us to have!
Episode 4: Discontentment & Unthankfulness
We are a very blessed people! So much of the world does not enjoy the immense wealth and bounty that we do in a first-world country. Yet, discontentment and unthankfulness so quickly capture our hearts.
These sins don’t always revolve around finances or possessions. Often, we feel these emotions in connection with circumstances God has allowed into our lives. I know I have been there multiple times! As Amy Carmichael wrote, “In acceptance lieth peace.” When we come to know more about God’s character, we get a deeper glimpse of His sovereignty. This leads to acceptance of His perfect will for our lives, and a peace that circumstances cannot shake!
Contentment and thankfulness bring God glory and point those we influence to a faith that is unlike anything found in this world. Let’s determine to trust the heart of our God and live lives defined by contentment and thankfulness!
Episode 5: Pride & Selfishness
As we continue our Respectable Sins Bible study, we come to the sins of pride and selfishness. These sins are like a fibrous root system that spreads fast and wide and intertwines into many crevices of the heart. Jesus Christ gave us a perfect example of humility and selflessness. If we are to be conforming more into His image, we need to confess and forsake these sins!
We discuss several different aspects of pride such as moral self-righteousness, pride of correct doctrine, pride of achievement, and an independent, prideful spirit. I then transition into addressing a few common areas where we often struggle with selfishness. As women who have influence on other’s hearts, especially young ones, we need to be setting a strong godly example in these areas. Let’s be women who are becoming more and more like our humble Savior!
Episode 6: Lack of Spirit-Control, Impatience, & Irritability
This episode covers some “respectable” sins that I’ve struggled with personally, whether in the past or in recent days. The first one we discuss is a lack of Spirit-control. This is different than self-control. This is allowing the Holy Spirit to be in control of every area of our lives- our eating and drinking, our finances, our decision making. The second part of the episode focuses on impatience and irritability. I share lessons God’s taught me in recent days regarding these sins in my own life.
Episode 7: Anger
If anyone has ever had the right to be angry with others it was Jesus. John 1:11 says, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” Isaiah 53:3 says, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:” Christ set aside all of His glory to humble Himself and die for the salvation of mankind, yet at every turn, man rejected His love. We allow anger to control our hearts for much smaller offenses! Yet Christ, our perfect example, never reacted in anger, but in loving compassion. We hear His love in some of His final words in Luke 23:34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
As we study through the “respectable sin” of anger, we will see how important it is for us to follow Christ’s example in how we handle anger, and the weeds that stem from it.
Episode 8: Judgmentalism
Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”
Philippians1:27 “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ …”
Our Respectable Sins study has brought us to the sin of judgmentalism. This is one that has cast a bad light on Christianity. Instead of the world seeing believers unify with the goal of spreading the gospel, they see us divided and arguing over lesser things. We must use our tongues for edification! That is how our conversation will become the gospel of Christ.
We look at this sin from a few different angles as we are challenged to hold to strong, biblical convictions while extending grace to ourselves and to others. We are all on this sanctification journey together. Let’s encourage each other instead of casting others down to elevate ourselves. May we accept the charge in Ephesians 4:15 to always speak the truth in love!
Episode 9: Envy & Jealousy
Continuing on our Respectable Sins study, we come to the sins of envy and jealousy. These are areas that have become great struggles in our culture today, especially in connection with social media. Facebook and Instagram have allowed us to have an intimate look into the “highlight reel” of other’s lives. This often does more damage than good if we are not seeking wisdom in how we navigate these platforms.
In this episode, I share ways that I have battled these feelings and what God has taught me through those struggles. I Timothy 6:6 says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” We need to learn to trust in the sovereignty of God and find contentment in the things He has gifted to us instead of comparing ourselves to others. Comparison is the first step that leads to the downward spiral of the sins of envy and jealousy. In our pursuit of Christlikeness, the sins of envy and jealousy should have no place on the throne of our hearts.
Episode 10: Sins of the Tongue
The Bible has a lot to say about our tongues! It is estimated that the average person speaks 16,000 words each day. How many of those words are for edification, encouragement, and the gospel? Or do we use our words for gossip, slander and complaining? This episode presents the challenge to pray the prayer David did in Psalm 141:3, “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.”
Episode 11: Worldliness
We come to the final “respectable sin” in this year long study- the sin of worldliness. At first glance, it might seem odd that worldliness is included as a respectable sin. Don’t we know that we are to not be like the world? But as we dig into this topic, we see how our hearts have allowed the world to creep in.
Jerry Bridges defines worldliness as being attached to, engrossed in, or preoccupied with the things of this temporal life.” The things of this temporal life may or may not be sinful in themselves. What makes our attitude towards things that are not sinful worldliness is the high value we put upon them.” We look at worldliness in connection with money, immorality, and idolatry.
Christ should be King of our heart. Nothing else should be allowed to dethrone Him and usurp the place that was created for Him alone.
Episode 12: Where From Here?
We’ve made it to the final episode of the Respectable Sins Bible study on the podcast! Throughout the year, we’ve looked at sins that might not seem “that bad” in light of culture, but all sin is in direct opposition to a righteous and holy God. So, where do we go from here? We must keep short sin accounts and live in the conscious awareness of the presence of God. Allow Him to shine the light of His Word into your heart and be willing to let Him transform the ugly, sinful reflections into ones that bring Him glory!