How Sin Grows Quietly in the Heart

Acknowledging How Sin Grows Quietly in the Heart

When others fall from positions of influence because of repeated unconfessed sin, it can be devastating. Lurid stories of sexual sins and pastors living secret lives are shocking. These are people we respect and look up to, they teach us, and are our role models.

But these stories should also prompt us to examine our own hearts. Perhaps it is more difficult for us to see ongoing sin in our own lives; sin that we have failed to repent and turn from. These public failures remind us that sin rarely begins loudly; more often, sin grows quietly in the heart.

"Sin rarely begins loudly; more often, it grows quietly in the heart."

How Pride Quietly Leads to Collapse

Many years ago a friend of mine who considered himself a good Christian was lured into an adulterous relationship. His life spiraled out of control. He lost his faith and was never the same afterwards. I'm sure before all of this happened he would have told you he would never think of committing adultery and yet he did. His pride in his ability to resist temptation contributed to his downfall. His story raises an unsettling question.

How can people who have known the blessings and forgiveness of God find themselves in positions where they are repeatedly sinning without remorse? Many times it begins with pride. The Bible tells us, "Pride goes before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18). That kind of pride is not limited to dramatic moral failure.

If we think we are so holy that sin can't affect us, we may place ourselves in positions of temptation without realizing the danger. But forgetting what God has blessed us with doesn't just happen to powerful people. It is a danger for us all.

Isolation and the Loss of Godly Counsel

This danger grows when we are isolated from other Christians. Perhaps you are feeling temptation in an area but feel as though you can handle it all on your own. Christians belong in a faith community for a reason. When you have a trusted Christian friend you can go to about your temptation, they often can encourage you to trust God. They can share their own faith story and help you realize what you need to change to remove yourself from the trap of a particular sin.

This need for godly counsel applies to every area of life, especially in our closest relationships. For example, if you have a troubled marriage don't go for help to someone who isn't a Christian. They may encourage you to divorce. Instead, seek counseling from a Christian brother or sister who will pray for you to find God's will. Whatever we face as a Christian family, we face together.

Spiritual Drift and Neglecting the Basics

Isolation is only one danger; another is spiritual drift. The danger of complacency in our faith can open us up to temptation. We drift from God when we stop doing the basics: reading the Bible, praying, and studying. When our hearts grow cold from being far from the Lord, then we are more susceptible to sin.

Habitual Sin and Self-Deception

Because drift often happens slowly and quietly, we have a responsibility to look at our own lives honestly. Are we dismayed by the sins of others, but less so by our own? What are some common ways we sin repeatedly but don't think much about it because those sins aren't the so called "big ones"?

Many of us have repeated anger problems. We have outbursts quite routinely but never really think of it as habitual sin. Anxiety and fear can be problems for some of us. We have failed to learn to trust the Lord fully. We may enjoy gossiping with our friends or criticizing others. Eating, sleeping, drinking; anything we routinely do in excess that is not good for us is habitual sin.

Are we unforgiving? Do we routinely forget to be thankful to God? Do we put other things before God on a daily basis? Over time, habitual sin reshapes not only our behavior, but our thinking. Most of us can identify one of these immediately and that is usually the one we excuse most quickly.

When we sin repeatedly, it is not uncommon to lie to ourselves. We say we are genuinely sorry for our sin, but internally believe it is impossible to break free from that sin. Instead of living in the power of God, we have given up.

Our attitude should be that of a person going into battle against repetitive sin. There is little hope for success when all we expect from ourselves is failure. Scripture does not describe the Christian life as passive endurance, but as active resistance.

The Christian Life as a Spiritual Battle

This is why the apostle Paul spent so much time explaining that the Christian life is a battle. This is why he uses the imagery of armor in Ephesians 6:10-20. We have an enemy, one that many times we underestimate.

But thankfully God has not left us without a defense and a weapon. His Word is the Sword of the Spirit. When we sin repeatedly, it simply means that we have forgotten to defend ourselves and we haven't used our weapon rightly. Are you sharpening your spiritual sword?

True Repentance, Forgiveness, and the Evidence of Faith

Of course we recognize that sin will continue to be a problem. Jesus Himself knew this when He prayed, "But forgive us our trespasses" (Matthew 6:12). Trespassing means to deliberately cross a line. It is a specific type of sin.

The word sin is broader. It means anything contrary to the will of God. Yet, God's grace offers us forgiveness as John reminds us,

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

Most of all we need to remember that God knows our heart. He knows when we are genuinely remorseful for our sin and when we are just mouthing words. Paul explains it this way,

"For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death" (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Is your heart truly broken over the sins you have committed? Do you have a longing to live a righteous life for God? This is more, so much more, than simply saying, "I want to be a good Christian." When we truly repent, we will turn away from the sin that brings sorrow to God. This brings us to a harder question, one many believers quietly wrestle with.

We know, thankfully, that God's forgiveness is not limited like ours often is. But at what point is unrepentant repetitive sin so much that it points to a lack of salvation? Scripture does not teach sinless perfection, but it does teach a changed direction.

If salvation brings change, how much of an unchanged life can we lead and still belong to God? Only God can really answer that question. But the Bible gives us some guidelines for how to know we belong to Him.

Jesus explains in Matthew 7:15-20 that we are known by our fruits. Paul lists those fruits in Galatians 5:22-23. We are not saved by good works, but good works are the evidence of our faith in Christ and His work in us.

Do we honestly see our lives being transformed more and more into the image of Christ? We may have setbacks; times when we fail, but overall do we see the Holy Spirit at work in us? That inward work of the Spirit does not remain hidden.

Living as God’s Light — Even After Failure

You and I may not be on a public stage, but our lives are being scrutinized by others. Jesus acknowledges this in Matthew 5:16,

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

If the world sees our good works, how much more will they notice when we don't do good? What separates us from the lost? Even if our sins are so-called 'secret sins', many times they are found out. Our life is not our own, it belongs to Jesus. Are people glorifying God because of your life?

Even when our failures are exposed, we can glorify God because He stands with open arms waiting for us to come back to Him. Like the loving Father He is, He welcomes us, like the Prodigal Son returning. Heaven rejoices when we turn to Him with a sincere heart.

He reaches down and comforts us when we reach up to Him with true remorse for our sin. Sin grows quietly in our heart, until we confess it and our heart is changed. When we see our brothers and sisters fail in such sad ways, He wants us to pray for them and be a comfort for them as well (1 Timothy 2:1).

In the same way, we should pray for our spiritual leaders who fail us. They are human and they will sin, but unrepentant ongoing sin in our church leaders can't be accepted. But then, neither should we accept it from ourselves.

What sin are you allowing to grow quietly because it has not yet cost you publicly? Don't let sin snuff out your light. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.