In our modern American culture, there are many people who question the merits of God’s Word. They might say this or that is not a sin and there’s nothing wrong with it. They appeal to cultural norms, attempt to reinterpret the plain language of the Bible or come up with exceptions. They point to long-held Christian traditions as outdated and antiquated all in an effort to dismiss God’s word.

But just for a moment, let’s remove all presuppositions and create a fictitious, hypothetical example that can cut through all the internal biases we may have. Let’s suppose, for the sake of illustration, that God said you cannot drink lemonade through a straw.

All the critics would ask, “What’s wrong with drinking lemonade through a straw? It doesn’t hurt anybody! Why is that a sin?” But all such questions are completely irrelevant. The real question is simply this: Is Jesus Christ your King or not?

If God said not to do something, and you decide that you’re going to do it anyway, then you are a traitor to the King. Your actions are not calling into question the validity of drinking lemonade through a straw; rather, they are calling into question the King’s authority over your life.

By choosing to ignore the king’s edict, you are:
• Rebelling against His authority
• Openly mocking His will for your life
• Declaring that you know better than God; that you are smarter than He is.

These are what make sin, sin. In our fictional example, whether drinking lemonade through a straw is good or bad is completely irrelevant. Sin boils down to the simple fact that God gave you a command, and you chose to ignore it. By your actions, you are giving God a middle finger. It is a deliberate expression of contempt toward God’s authority over your life.

Faith is being able to trust God. He does not leave us without direction, nor does He rule from a place of harshness or cruelty. His commands are given in righteousness, and His authority is always exercised in perfect wisdom and perfect love. To submit to Him is not a loss of your freedom, rather it is the beginning of being able to walk in faith under the care of a good King.