Condoning Sin Is Sin

According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of condone is to regard or treat (something bad or blameworthy) as acceptable, forgivable, or harmless. We are not to condone sin. Sin is not acceptable or harmless. However, it is forgivable, but only through Jesus. Sin should always be addressed so it can be prevented from causing harm.

The way we address sin with the unbeliever is different than how the sin of a believer is addressed. The sinner is predisposed to sin. They have a sin nature, and sinning is what they naturally do. Our job is to show them the love of Jesus and how He paid for their sins to be forgiven. At the same time, they do need to know that their sin is sin and that it separates them from God. We can do this lovingly instead of condemningly. In their hearts, they are already being convicted that their sin is wrong. Whether they admit it or not, deep down, they know they are in sin. We are to love the sinner, but hate the sin. Jesus did this.

And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou….? When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. John 8:3-5, 10-11 (KJV) emphasis mine

When a born-again believer is living a lifestyle of sin, partaking in an ongoing, repetitive sin, it is up to other believers to address it and prompt that person to repent and turn from that sin. As brothers and sisters in Christ, it is our duty to help each other stay away from sin and anything that can entrap and ensnare us. To fail to address sin is sin. When we turn a blind eye to a brother or sister engaging in sin, we are condoning it, which is the same as promoting it as acceptable. We are not showing love to someone when we allow them to continue in sin.

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’  If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.Matthew 18:15-17 (New International Version, NIV)

This shows a progressive process of going to the brother or sister privately up to the point of removing them from the church. This seems harsh, but it is not nearly as harsh as what happened to Ananias and Sapphira in the book of Acts. Jesus told us that little leaven (referring to sin) leavens the whole lump. In other words, sin left unaddressed will affect others. It will spread because failure to address it implies that such behavior is endorsed. The hope is that the man or woman who has been removed from the church body will see the seriousness of their sin and repent and return to church fellowship.

Sin is dangerous as it leads us away from God and it gives the devil access to our lives. It is never acceptable to overlook sin. We must address it, and we are to do so in love. To condone sin is sin itself.