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				Justify By Joe Sanchez People often try to justify the wrong things they want to do in their lives. Could we fall into this way of thinking? ave you ever wondered why people try to rationalize some really wicked things? Why is it some of the most educated people spend countless hours to study, research, and prove ideas we as Christians can clearly see are contradictory to the Bible? For instance, they might try to prove that it's fine to commit adultery, or that homosexuality is an equally legitimate lifestyle with heterosexuality. Why do people want to prove such ideas? Is there an ulterior motive to their studies? Could we also fall into this same situation trying to disprove God's Word? How is it that people hold so many beliefs diametrically opposite from the Bible? Why is it that so many of the highly educated and astute thinkers of today go out of their way to disprove the Bible and destroy the moral fiber of our country through their studies and research? Intellectualism or Deception? Dr. Gunter Schmidt, German psychologist made this statement in the academic publication Journal of Homosexuality about pedophiles: "Each individual case must be looked upon on its own merits...the threat to make all pedophile acts punishable by law can barely be labeled civilized...it implies discrimination and persecution of a minority and should be abolished" (Vol. 20, Nos. 1/2, 1990). Dr. Schmidt continues in his study trying to prove that child molestation is not always bad for the child and should be looked at on an individual basis. Is this where our intellectualism has led us? Will we as a society take the word of people who are claiming to represent "science" over the Word of God, even when it's as obvious as the subject of child molestation? Why would someone want to legitimize such an abomination? Clearly, these people are deceived, as it says in Revelation 12:9, "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world..." So many times people believe Satan's lies simply because they fit their situation. Here is a scenario: A person is tempted -- let's say to steal from his employer. Then, he gives in to the temptation and commits the act. He sins. At this point, the individual can choose one of two options: He can acknowledge his sin, repent and try to do better, or he can justify his actions. He can try to ignore the situation for a short time or pretend it doesn't exist, but eventually he will have to choose. Proverbs 21:2 states, "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes." Notice the scripture says "every way." If the wicked did not feel their actions were right, that would be great! The first step toward repentance is to realize when we are doing wrong. Alternatively, if a person does something he thinks is incorrect, his actions will seem right either by changing his mind or justifying and rationalizing what he did. Man's Self-Justification Will we as a society take the word of people who are claiming to represent "science" over the Word of God, even when it's as obvious as the subject of child molestation? This pattern of self-justification is very apparent in today's society of moral decline, especially among our leaders and social reformists. A person who is highly respected in his field might, though various "unbiased" studies, try and prove that something is right in a way that disproves God. And, because that person thinks he has superior intellect, education and experience he or she wants you to believe the studies he or she has done are indisputable. Are they indisputable? Are their studies unbiased? The answer is a definite NO! One interesting example lies in the early twentieth century research of anthropologist and social reformer Margaret Mead. Her 1928 book, Coming of Age, was widely accepted, not only by scientific communities, but also by millions of other readers. Her work had a big impact on our culture and most likely was a large cause of the sexual revolution which followed in the United States. Margaret Mead's studies took her to the small Samoan Islands, located in the South Pacific, and were focused primarily on the sexuality of adolescent women in the islands. The significance of these islands, to her, was their isolation and lack of influence from Western society. In this setting, according to Mead, men and women were uninhibited by the jealousy, taboos, and moral constraints common in our Western culture. Conclusions drawn from her works have contributed to our problems with sexual promiscuity. She expressed that the problem was not their promiscuity, but our reaction to their lifestyle. Margaret Mead painted a false picture of a magical place where people were untainted by the harsh rules and stigmas of our Christian society -- where men and women were free to break God's Law with no consequences. Her point was that we need to open our minds to the freedoms of the Somoans! At this point, the individual can choose one of two options: He can acknowledge his sin, repent and try to do better, or he can justify his actions. Unfortunately, many people took her work as doctrine and it took its toll on America. The Fateful Hoaxing of Margaret Mead, written by Derek Freeman, does an excellent job of exposing many of the inaccuracies and deceptions in her work. The most interesting point was that Margaret Mead was herself having an adulterous affair during the very time she was compiling her book! Freeman shows she didn't just happen to come up with this conclusion about adolescent sexuality through an unbiased study of the Samoan people. She was, in fact, trying to excuse her own actions. Her way had to seem right in her own eyes. God's Answer Notice what God inspires Paul to say in Romans 1:22-32 about those who become deceived by the work of Satan and their own carnal minds. The verses begin, "Professing to be wise, they became fools" and end with these strong words: "who, knowing the righteous order of God, that those practicing such things are worthy of death, not only do them, but have pleasure in those practicing them." God Himself allows these people to be deceived. Why? Because they took pleasure in the sins they were committing. Knowing the truth is not enough. Knowledge alone will not grant you grace in the sight of God. There must be an active response to the knowledge we are given. When we stumble (and we all do), we must acknowledge our sin and repent. Because if we do not, the the only alternative is to justify our actions. An excellent example of how we should react when we are being confronted with our sin is shown by King David. Most of us are familiar with David's affair with Bathsheba and his attempt to cover it up. In 2 Samuel 12:1-4, God sends Nathan the prophet to confront David about his sin. Now, Nathan does not come right out and tell him. Nathan starts out with telling him a story. The story is that of a rich man and a poor man who each owned lambs. The poor man owned only one lamb, and it was like a member of his family. A traveler came to the rich man, and the rich man did not want to slaughter one of his own lambs, so he took the lamb of the poor man and slaughtered it for his guest. David quickly takes the bait and pronounces a sentence upon himself: "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity" (2 Samuel 12:5-6). Nathan quickly responds, telling him, "You are the man!" (verse 7). Nathan then proceeds into a short speech telling David what a scoundrel he was and the curses he will receive because of his actions. What was David's reaction? He was the king -- a leader with much more power than the American president today has. He was the top leader of the nation and he was tricked into pronouncing judgment upon himself. Did he make excuses? Blame it on someone else? Try and call it normal? In verse 13 he says, "I have sinned against the LORD." After Nathan's speech, David quickly and immediately chose to acknowledge his sin and repent. We must do the same. We must quickly repent, realize our sin and allow God to justify us. Only through repentance can we truly be justified. Christ expounds on this idea with a parable in Luke 18:10-14. He says, "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men -- extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Either we allow God to justify us, or we try to justify ourselves. The only true way we can be justified is by not making excuses or trying to reason around the problem. We cannot be as Margaret Mead, who tried to prove it is society's fault that adultery does not work, or as others who try to persuade people into believing what God condemns is natural and acceptable. God put a conscience in us, but we damage its effectiveness if we resist its guidance. Every man's actions can seem right in his own eyes. God forces us to make a decision. Our human nature makes us choose. Either we allow God to justify us, or we try to justify ourselves. The only way to be truly justified is to acknowledge we are wrong, repent and change. Let's pick God's option quickly and immediately as David did. Let's choose it every single time. Further reading For more on the subject of justification, see our article "What Does It Mean to Be Justified?" Copyright 2010 by United Church of God, an International Association All rights reserved.

Related Information:

Other Articles by Joe Sanchez
Origin of article "Justify"
Keywords: justify justification intellectualism rationalization sexual morality 

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• Circumcision vs. a 'New Creation' in Christ
• Current Confusion Over Christian Freedom
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