Sin is deadly. It is a moral and spiritual malignancy. Left unchecked, like cancer, it will spread and ultimately contaminate every corner of our lives.

That is why we need to get a handle on even the subtlest sins that we have been tempted to tolerate and pursue the holy life that God desires for all of us.

Over the past few weeks, we have been digging into some of the sins that Christians often seem willing to tolerate. I hope you are beginning to see that sin is such an ugly thing.

As Christians, we should learn to hate sin like God hates it. We have been called to leave the life of sin.

In 2 Corinthians 6:17, God calls to come out from a life of sin and be separate. We can live sanctified, set-apart lives. We don’t have to live like the world lives. God has called us to something so much better.

Unfortunately, though, it seems like culture would rather cozy up to sin rather than reject it or leave it behind.

Alexander Pope, an 18th century English poet, wrote that sin is first endured, then pitied, then embraced. There is so much truth in that statement.

When we are first exposed to sin, there is often initial resistance or rejection. But over the course of time, we grow more accustomed to what we see or hear. We begin to tolerate it, then get more comfortable with it, until one day, the sin we initially rejected has somehow become acceptable.

Culture systematically tries to desensitize us to sin. Who do you think is behind that program? Desensitization to sin is a dangerous thing.

We’ve often see this happen through the influence of the media. So many writers, directors and producers have a very specific agenda in mind. They have a platform, and they know all too well how to use it.

People are exposed to things in theaters and on television and computer and phone screens that would have been unthinkable just a few short years ago.

Over the past 30 years, there has been a very intentional strategy to move society from a place of rejection to a place of acceptance and even affirmation in regard to morality and ethics. Alexander Pope got it right. I have seen the progression.

God hates all sin, not just those sins we perceive as the epic sins of society. He also hates those sins some might perceive as acceptable. You might have chosen to accept it or tolerate it, but God’s position on sin has not changed.

You may read Steve Greene’s blog at pastorgreene.wordpress.com or you can email him at [email protected].