Are we suppose to turn a blind eye to sin?

[kdet]

I've been following a thread on another forum and a post there caught my eye. Someone stated that if a person is sinning it is not any of our business that we are to support the person in their endeavors even when we know that what they are doing is wrong. This thinking I do not find to be bibically sound at all. If a friend come to you and announces that they are going to leave their spouse for someone else...should we support that descion?
If someone annouces that they are coming out as an homosexual and are planning on moving in with their lover...should we support that descion?

Are we not in fact condoning the sin and enabling the person to feel justified in continuing in that sin?

 

[kdet]

We should not be guilty of enticing others into evil, but we should also refuse to condone sin. To ignore sinful activity places the stamp of approval on the act; saying nothing says something. “When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself” (Ezekiel 33:8-9).

 

[Polycarp1]

Jesus and Paul are in agreement on this, despite people who would set them at odds:

We are to correct in love, compassionately as we would a beloved brother or sister, not in harsh judgment. With the measure with which we judge, we too will be judged (Matt. 7:2). Therefore, as we have been the recipients of unearned grace and compassion, we should ensure that any judgment which we make of our fellow man is replete with the compassion, forgiveness, and grace with which we hope to ourselves be judged.

BTW, I ask your forgiveness, Sweetkitty, for some harsh words of mine directed your way before I understood better where you were coming from. They too should have been done as I said in the last paragraph, if they needed to be said at all, and they were not.

 

[Lifesaver]

not turn a blind eye, but at the same time trying not to hurt people or act like a jerk.

We live in a fallen world, and it's frustrating to realise we can't change everything that is wrong. Let's at least wish the best for everyone, and if we see our protests would be worthless (or even hurtful), let them deal with God in their own way.

 

[professor frink]

As a non-believer my thoughts might not be of intrest to you but in case they are I will chime in. I think if the person you feel is sinning/falling into sin, you should not encourage the action, but I think you still need to support the person. Telling someone that they are a bad person because of what they are doing is not going to be constructive. A more open approach might be in order. Be honest with the person and tell them that you don't agree with their actions, but do not condemn them. By doing this you can provide the support and love that they need without encouraging the sinful act itself.

 

[Mr.Pious]

If someone annouces that they are coming out as an homosexual and are planning on moving in with their lover...should we support that descion?

Are we not in fact condoning the sin and enabling the person to feel justified in continuing in that sin?

I have a filling if you said something about that you would probally lose a friend

 

[Lyle]

The Bible states that we are to go to that person privatly, and show them why what they are/ or what they are about to do is wrong... If they do not listen, we must take two or three more that the metter may be established with witnesses... If they again refuse to listen, we are to tell it to the church and have no dealins with them, not because we forsake them as a brother/sister in Christ, but that they might be ashamed...

Be careful not to judge another believer.. We are in no position to do that.

 

[bloodofthelamb12]

Yeah, they were...um...wrong to be blunt. The idea of, "support your friends be they right or wrong" is simply ridiculous. It more aligns with Hedonism than Christianity.

 

[Christi]

I've been following a thread on another forum and a post there caught my eye. Someone stated that if a person is sinning it is not any of our business that we are to support the person in their endeavors even when we know that what they are doing is wrong. This thinking I do not find to be bibically sound at all. If a friend come to you and announces that they are going to leave their spouse for someone else...should we support that descion?
If someone annouces that they are coming out as an homosexual and are planning on moving in with their lover...should we support that descion?

Are we not in fact condoning the sin and enabling the person to feel justified in continuing in that sin?

Hi Kitty, to me I guess the answer depends on what "support" is. We shouldn't condone or help someone in their sin, as we wouldn't want someone doing us. I do feel, and biblically I think, from studying Jesus and how he treated sinners...that we shouldn't withdraw our friendship from them. If He can forgive our failures, being sinless, I should forgive other's failures, being sinful myself.
Also, it seems practical that it would keep me in close proximity to talk to them or help them back out of it, when they were ready. You know as well as I do, a Christian who departs from God's will is not deeply happy inside, no matter how much they try, or how much fun they have at first. Grieving the Holy Spirit is a lonely walk, and eventually you need someone to gently and kindly point out how to rectify that.
That being said, say I'm wrong and we are not supposed to support a fellow sinner......
all Christians will be very lonely, because we will all have to withdraw our friendship from each other. Unless we just pick certain sinners to not support, and then who decides? All sin hurts God.
I think this all comes down to how you define "support", "accept", etc., because we can't force them not to sin.
Anyway, sorry for rambling.....I'm bored this morning.

 

[kdet]

Hi Kitty, to me I guess the answer depends on what "support" is. We shouldn't condone or help someone in their sin, as we wouldn't want someone doing us. I do feel, and biblically I think, from studying Jesus and how he treated sinners...that we shouldn't withdraw our friendship from them. If He can forgive our failures, being sinless, I should forgive other's failures, being sinful myself.
Also, it seems practical that it would keep me in close proximity to talk to them or help them back out of it, when they were ready. You know as well as I do, a Christian who departs from God's will is not deeply happy inside, no matter how much they try, or how much fun they have at first. Grieving the Holy Spirit is a lonely walk, and eventually you need someone to gently and kindly point out how to rectify that.
That being said, say I'm wrong and we are not supposed to support a fellow sinner......
all Christians will be very lonely, because we will all have to withdraw our friendship from each other. Unless we just pick certain sinners to not support, and then who decides? All sin hurts God.
I think this all comes down to how you define "support", "accept", etc., because we can't force them not to sin.
Anyway, sorry for rambling.....I'm bored this morning.

Thanks for your answer, Christi!
I understand what you mean...I suppose that I'm thinking that we can give support in positive ways to people...such as praying for them..and helping them by doing things for them...take someone begging on the streets...should we help them by giving them money to possibly buy drugs or alcohol or should we bring them some food or possibly rent them a room for the night? My question wasn't directed about Christians only....my main concern right now is Christians condoning and excusing things like homosexuality and abortion..these things really bother me...as I'm sure you already know
Well, I have to get ready for church and then afterwards, bake my hubby a homemade angel food cake...thing takes 12 eggs can you believe it ?? !!

Have a terrific day Christi,love ya!

 

[Polycarp1]

Well, there's an old line about "love the sinner but hate the sin."

I'm far less interested in "affirming homosexuality" than I am in affirming homosexuals -- treating them as people no different than I, sinners in need of a Savior, who need Christian love and dignity as much as I.

 

[Caylin]

Stand by your friend when they need it, and gently help them when they fall, and they will do the same for you.

 

[Lyle]

Not that the Bible says we are to take the plank from our own eye... That we may see the more clearly to remove the spec from theirs... Note that it says remove, as in we are to help them...

 

[Davebuck]

But christians seem to turn a blind eye to so many sins themselves. They rarely preach about many 'sins' because they've come to accept them. I just posted in another thread that the new testament does not condone 'folly' or 'course joking' or 'foolish talk'. These are mentioned in the same context as greed and idolitry and sexual immorality. Yet christians don't even really know about these or they are no longer taught or they just pick and choose which parts of the bible to follow and which to ignore. Note, my three examples are just a small sample of things your bible calls 'sins' that are no longer talked or preached about. Plus, the old testament refers to plenty of 'abominations' that no christians consider 'abominations' today. How can something be an abomination to god one day and not the next?

I'd say that before christians even begin to tell others that they are sinning, they should sit down and define what sins exactly are (concretely). Then, start by not participating in ANY of them. That way, they won't be hypocrits and perhaps more people would listen to them.

 

[educk]

I've been following a thread on another forum and a post there caught my eye. Someone stated that if a person is sinning it is not any of our business that we are to support the person in their endeavors even when we know that what they are doing is wrong. This thinking I do not find to be bibically sound at all. If a friend come to you and announces that they are going to leave their spouse for someone else...should we support that descion?
If someone annouces that they are coming out as an homosexual and are planning on moving in with their lover...should we support that descion?

Are we not in fact condoning the sin and enabling the person to feel justified in continuing in that sin?

I think in the scenario you have painted that you can tell the person that this is not what you personally believe, but that you will still love them. We have no moral or Scriptural right to judge unbeliever's sin, and we have limited access to their lives once they confess to be Christians. Read Rom 14 in The Message. The thing that you need to understand is that in the New Testament covenant, that God leads each of us by our conscience. He so value this, that He said we should not IMPOSE our views on another's conscience, as He is God and He will take care of it. And then finally, there is only one Man that was ever qualified and righteously had a reason to throw the first stone at the prostitute, as He never sinned. He turned down the opportunity and instead told this woman she is forgiven and that there is Life in Him. Too many of us are obsessed with other’s sins, and not our own.

 

[GMRELIC]

I think in the scenario you have painted that you can tell the person that this is not what you personally believe, but that you will still love them.
Too many of us are obsessed with other’s sins, and not our own.

I have to agree with this