Who would have the audacity to call God a liar? Honestly, much of society does. For one reason or another, they think He doesn’t know what He’s talking about. But are some “Christians” calling Him a liar on a regular basis?
I feel like someone on the other end of this screen gasped or called me a heathen, but I’m just speaking truth. Look at 1 John.
If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. 1 John 1:10
New Living Translation
How many times have you met someone who called themselves a Christian but had a “holier than thou” attitude? That is the same as saying you have not sinned. When you look at someone else’s life and consider them “less than” based on their actions, you are elevating yourself as if without sin.
Likely you’ve experienced someone asking a group “have any among us not sinned?” We all know that the questioner is just waiting to be able to say, “well, all you who raised your hands just lied so now you have.” It’s plain to see that we are all sinners, which is why this gag works so well. Yet, with this known, we still believe inside we can be above another.
How can we avoid calling God a liar? Perspective. My perspective often is my downfall. My views of what I do and don’t have, what did and didn’t go right, are often what drives me into sin. My knowledge of other’s sins and my view of how I haven’t done those sins creates a feeling that I am better than them at times. I am sure more than one reader can relate to this issue. In reality, all readers can in some fashion.
Every sin we can commit is driven by perspective. One person doesn’t steal because their perspective is that stealing would dishonor God. Another person’s perspective is that their family will go hungry if they do not steal. One person’s perspective realizes God has set aside intimate relationships for marriage. Another person’s perspective is that they will miss out on pleasure and lose their “lover” if they wait for marriage.
See, perspective can either drive you in the direction of God or away. When we have an ungodly perspective, we allow ourselves to rationalize our wrong actions. By rationalizing these actions, we have convinced ourselves that we have not sinned. By convincing ourselves that we have not sinned, we are saying God is a liar when His Word speaks against our actions.
How can we change our perspective then? Habits. Changing habits changes perspectives. If our habits are to fill our minds with worldly things, then our perspective will reflect that. If we start soaking in scripture, praying often, and simply allowing God to be within all our days, then our perspective will begin to shift in His favor.
Some might be asking, “if God is so powerful, how come He can’t just fix it?” You have to realize that God not only gives us free will but is relational. If He were to fix everything with a snap of the fingers, you and He wouldn’t be building relationship. For example, if a father builds a tree house for his son, will he build more relationship with the boy if he does it all alone, or if he invites him to build with him? God is allowing you to “build” with Him so that you can acquire a deeper relationship with Him.
Don’t think I’m a heartless person expecting impossible things from you. I’m human and I struggle. Because I struggle, I learn things. I personally struggle with perspective more than I care to recount. As you are learning to change and adjust, so am I. You are never alone in your spiritual battles and growth. There are millions just like you with the same questions and struggles. The only thing that isn’t guaranteed is that everyone will choose to overcome them. Are you willing to put in the effort to overcome?