Articles
Legalized Sin
I am thankful we live in a free country. No society in the history of the world has enjoyed the rights and freedoms we enjoy here in the United States of America. However, we need to realize that just because our government tells us something is legal, does not make it right. I want to take just a minute to remind you of some things that are legalized sins. Legalized sins are things we find that are legal according to our government, but yet are sinful.
The first legalized sin I want to point out is that of Gambling. It is perfectly legal to go to the horse track and place a bet on your favorite horse. It is perfectly legal to go to the casino. It is perfectly legal to stop at the gas station and buy your weekly lottery ticket or buy your favorite scratch off tickets. It is perfectly legal to do all of these things, but again to do so, is sin! Did you know that gambling violates the basic Bible principle of work (Eph. 4:28; II Thess. 3:7-10). Not only does gambling violate the basic principle of work but gambling is driven by covetousness. Covetousness is the desire to have more, its greediness (Strongs). In Colossians 3:5 we find that Paul warns against covetousness. In fact, he even says that covetousness is the same as idolatry. It is idolatry because the moment we put anything before serving God it is idolatry. Yes according to our government, gambling is legal. However, it is still sinful.
Another legalized sin is that of Abortion. On January 22, 1973 the Supreme Court of the United States of America ruled in the famous Roe vs. Wade case that unborn babies are not legal persons, and therefore, have no rights under the constitution. The mother can have the baby killed, even up to the time of birth if the doctor agrees. How sad this is. Did you know, in the New Testament, the Greek word (brephos) is used to designate an unborn baby and a baby after birth (Luke 1:41,44; 2:12,16)? A baby in the womb is still a baby. To kill a baby outside the womb is murder. Therefore, to kill a baby in the womb is murder. Yes our government says it is legal, but God says it is a sin.
Finally, I want to point out that homosexuality is a legalized sin. Today more and more states are ruling to allow homosexual marriages. And even though states are saying it is legal, God still says it is sinful. Notice what is said in I Corinthians 6:9-10. The text reads, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” The text is clear and easy to read and understand. Will you follow what we find in God’s Word?
There are other things we could talk about that are legalized sins, but we will stop with the ones we have mentioned. I challenge you to look at yourself. Are you living a legalized sin? Are there things in your life you are doing that are legal, yet sinful? If so, will you correct those things? Will you ask God to forgive you and live your life to serve Him? We must remember that even if our government says something is legal, it does not always make it right according to the Word of God.
