The Easiest Way to Disobey

“’Go near and listen to all that the LORD our God says. Then tell us whatever the LORD our God tells you. We will listen and obey.’ The LORD heard you when you spoke to me and the LORD said to me, ‘I have heard what this people said to you. Everything they said was good. Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!’” Deuteronomy 5:27-29 (NIV)

They promised to obey, but did not obey.

The easiest way to disobey is to refuse to listen. If we stay ignorant of God’s word then we do not feel responsible for our sins. However, that does not fly with God anymore than explaining to the speed cop that we did not see the speed limit sign.

Here is what God says in Leviticus 5:17 and in 1 Corinthians 4:4:

“If a person sins and does what is forbidden in any of the LORD’s commands, even though he does not know it, he is guilty and will be held responsible.” Leviticus 5:17 (NIV)

“My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.” 1 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV)

Sin is not determined by the conscience if the conscience standard is less than the absolute standard. The word of God is senior to the conscience. However, when the conscience is more strict than the absolute standard, then the conscience does determine sin.

“As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.” Romans 14:14 (NIV)

“But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.” Romans 14:23 (NIV)

(Taken from Day & Night, 2004)

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