"I Don't See Anything Wrong With It"
Determining right from wrong is not always easy. Sometimes, when we examine an issue to determine what is right or wrong, we find that the issue is complex. Answers to moral and ethical questions are not always clear.
However, there are some things which are evidently wrong. The Bible is the supreme standard to which Christians turn to determine what is right or wrong. One can know, for example, that prejudice is sinful. James wrote, “But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors” (James 2:9). Consequently, judging a person’s character or worth, based on outward appearance, is sinful.
On the other hand, the Bible does not have to specifically label a thing as “sinful,” in order to determine that something is sinful. Sometimes, one must study the “principles” of Scripture to determine right from wrong. There is no Bible verse that states, “Thou shalt not have an abortion.” Yet, there are principles from the Scriptures which strongly suggest that abortion is not consistent with the moral standards of God (Deuteronomy 27:25; Proverbs 6:16-17; Luke 1:41).
Nevertheless, we sometimes are guilty of ignoring the teachings of God’s Word and attempting to justify behaviors and actions. Luke provides information about a certain lawyer who tried to shun his responsibility to help a man in need. Scripture says the lawyer was “willing to justify himself” (Luke 10:29). Unfortunately, we sometimes attempt to “justify” things we want to do, things which the Bible may condemn specifically or in principle.
A person might say, “I don’t see anything wrong with lying to avoid a difficult situation.” However, saying “I don’t see anything wrong with lying” does not mean that lying is justified (Colossians 3:9; Revelation 21:8). The same holds true for the one who says, “I don’t see anything wrong with pornography”; “I see nothing wrong getting drunk”; “I don’t see anything wrong with leaving my husband because I have found another man”; “I don’t see anything wrong with cheating the company out of money”; “I see nothing wrong with gambling,” etc.
Often, the reason we see nothing wrong with such things is that we do not want to see it. We harden our hearts, close our eyes, and refuse to listen to God’s Word (cf. Matthew 13:15). “I” may not “see anything wrong with it,” but that does not mean that it is right. It could mean that “I” just need to open my eyes to the truth!
