Sin is missing the mark. Which means that each and every choice that we make is a shot at getting things right. We literally make thousands of choices every single day. How can we hope to get even a fraction of these correct? At the risk of begin labeled a legalist or Pharisee we must start with calling sin what it is. All sin is an affront to a Holy God. There really is no such thing as a little sin or big sin. All of it is offensive to the purity and holiness of God. Sin is sin, it is not a mistake. Mistakes can be erased. We can not erase our sins. They follow us and over time the death of sin begins to stink.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23
We often look at others and condemn them for their obvious sins. Recently, I was in a church service where they played a video of a group playing a powerful worship song. Many in the congregation were crying, several went to the altar to repent and get a new life. I too felt the power of the Holy Spirit. At risk of sounding super spiritual, I heard the Spirit say, “Look at the members of the band in the video.” I gazed at them. At first, I saw nothing out of the ordinary. These were obviously talented musicians that loved Jesus. My heart rejoiced as soul spoke to soul. The Spirit kept prodding me to keep looking. These Christian brothers were passionate and deliberate in their worship and that love drew me to them. I kept watching carefully. Then I realized what the Spirit was leading me to see. One of the more focused and passionate worship leaders had long hair and visible tattoos. The Spirit told me that just a few years earlier this very church would have called this man, a sinner in need of a savior based solely on his appearance.
My friends, we must not use appearance in our determination of sin. Yes, I know that you could spout a couple of Scriptures to me.
Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD. -Leviticus 19:28
Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? -1 Corinthians 11:14-16
With these verses in mind how in the world can a man that is blatantly breaking these scriptures be so filled with the Holy Spirit? The answer is that we must judge rightly, not by mere appearances. When I was living for the world, I got a tattoo that was based on ancient non-Christian symbolism. When I got that tattoo it was sin. I was dedicating my life to a false God that could not save me, heal me or any other thing. It is the worship that was wrong. My heart was wicked and deceitful in that moment. I have since repented. Now I still have that tattoo. Now it serves as a reminder that I once served the gods of this world. I also in that season had longish hair. I grew my hair to connect with my hero, Jim Morrison. He was a god to my broken and desperate self. My long hair was an act of worship of a dead rock star and a false god. It was a sin.
I know my heart and I can adamantly call those choices sin. However, I can not look at others and make that determination. What is the heart of those engaged in this or that behavior? That is what we must explore with them if we are to help set the captive free.
