For instance, alcohol consumption is rationalized because it has certain favorable properties. Let me put that in perspective: Suppose the government granted you land in upper Alaska. It is beautiful and teaming with wild game. You accept the grant knowing that it will provide peace and benefits. However, you are warned that the winters are bitter, that you may endure extreme hardship, or even die! Few would risk themselves for what little happiness that land would provide! This analogy is much like alcoholic beverages. It seems more good than it is! People rationalize its use because it's what they want to do without regard to what it can do to them! Let's look at what God inspired Isaiah to write:
Isa 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! 22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: 23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
Some believe that good and evil is clear without any shades of grey. Using the land grant example, let's examine that premise. God made the land and all that God made is good. There is nothing bad about owning land. Neither is there anything wrong about wanting a piece of land. However, what is wrong is wanting land so badly that it jeopardizes oneself, or desiring it more than God. When one wants land badly enough, then oftentimes reality will be ignored. Perhaps the grantee will think, the bears are dangerous but I am powerful , or they won't kill me! "Reality" is that you may not die but reality is also that you may die!
Knowing the two possible outcomes, you do what you want to do without regard to the dangers. That strong desire is sinful. Owning the land is not. That desire to have in spite of the warnings is sinful. When Adam and Eve desired the fruit of the tree, the tree was God's and it was good. On the other hand, their desire for the fruit was wrong because God gave them a fair warning: You will surely die. With the land in Alaska, the grantee may with a high degree of likelihood be deprived of safety of even life. God's warning is don't go there unless you are willing to die. That strong desire to go there is foolishness because of the odds. However, the grantee rationalizes his choice by thinking: I will defy the odds!
However, may be God's will that the grantee move to Alaska, perhaps as a missionary to the indigenous people, then God makes it right and good. If the grantee goes to Alaska under the pretense of missionary activities, then the land is sinful. You see, it is not "things" which are sinful but the desire to do things not God's will.
Eating the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was not sinful in itself. However, doing what they desired to do although warned by God not to, is sinful because it put their desire above God's will.
Recently, I have heard Christians defend marijuana usage. It is symbolic of that land in northern Alaska. The northern lights of marijuana are so enchanting that even Christians want to go there. The "justification" is that it is good. That is rationalization. Marijuana's deleterious affects and unknown dangers far outweigh what little good it may do! God expressed it well: Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil. Marijuana was created by God. God creates for good uses and evil testing. Evil Satan was created to test the righteousness of mankind. Perhaps marijuana was created to test the will of man. Satan knows and does some "good". He does that to manipulate. However, Satan is the epitome of evil. He makes evil sound good.
Those who overlook God's will and warnings are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight. That was Adam and Eve's problem. The forbidden tree "fruit" could just as easily be land, wine, marijuana, or anything which causes mankind to have strong desires.
Isaiah used the example of alcoholic beverages: Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink. Isaiah, propagating God's will did not indict wine or strong drink. God made them both! The key indicator of sin are the words "mighty" and "strength". The powerful and strong desire to drink wine and strong drink is the sin. Paul indicated that a little wine would be good for the health. They didn't know of aspirin, anti-oxidants, or blood-thinners. A little wine could be used for medicinal purposes, and if one studies the history of wine, which I have, their wine was most often bitter, full of sediment, and of low alcohol content. Even with that, it had to be watered down to be potable.
Without regard to the medicinal purposes, which is rationalization for imbibing, it's the strong desire to drink wine or strong drink which is sinful. Why? Because the goodness is moderate but the dangers are great! Those who are offered wine or strong drink receive some "good" but the dangers far outweigh the good. Those who do any sin with the intent of moderation, deceive themselves. They rationalize, I will never be an alcoholic, or I will never have my liver hardened. I will not ever die. They gamble with truth because many do! The best way to never be endangered is never to do the sin. I don't drink alcoholic drinks because I am prudent. If I did, there is some chance that I may get addicted. God guided me not to imbibe, so I won't.
I would never think of chancing marijuana because I have seen the outcomes of many who do. Many are indeed "burn-outs" or emotionally stunted. However, users rationalize their use by propagating the little good that it may provide while ignoring the negative effects and affects. That is rationalizing their use. They put their own wisdom and prudence over God's and actuality. Is it God's will that mankind live in a stupor? Is it God's will that mankind inhale tremendous amounts of tar? Is it God's will that mankind put their will before God's? You know the answer. Marijuana is the "devils' weed" and wine is not "Jesus juice" as Michael Jackson thought. I have not found in Scripture anywhere that Jesus drank wine. If Nazarite living is examined, God's will is that none should partake of wine or even fruits which ferment (Num 6) because in those days fermentation was not controlled. It is specifically written: "to separate themselves unto the Lord: He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink" (Num 6:3). The reason or "justification" is even given: "to separate themselves unto the Lord."
We are not to sin to separate ourselves from the world and unto the Lord. That "separation" is called sanctification. All Christians are to seek sanctification, or separation from what the world does! Scripture tells us to not do what the pagans do. What is most often the things they do? Imbibe and party without facing the consequences of sinful lives. They claim to be God's but the disconnect between God's will and their actions is revealing. Have they taken their Nazarite vow seriously? I don't drink because that is the easy one! I will never smoke dope because that is even easier! The hard vow is to love God and others. With the easy ones out of the way, I am working on the others!
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