I have kept it no secret that I am a big Jerry Bridges fan. His books are not only enlightening and challenging and filled with spiritual truths in laymen’s terms, but they are also downright genuine.
Jerry is honest: he picks himself apart more than anyone else I have ever read, only to sew himself back together with the thread of Christ’s redeeming holiness. I have never walked away from a Bridges book feeling like I gained nothing, and Respectable Sins is no different.
In this book, Bridges zones in on roughly forty common sins in thirteen chapters, sins that Christians overlook as mere personality flaws, bad habits and sentiments that are really “no big deal.” Bridges calls these sins “respectable,” “acceptable,” and “subtle,” because we Christians find them so often in our churches and homes that we figure they are normal and nothing to worry about.
Some examples of these sins include those I struggle with the most: ungodliness (living my day as if there is no God), selfishness with my time, inconsiderateness, irritability, harsh words, and lack of self control in eating, watching TV, and enjoying hobbies. Such a list may throw someone who has not yet read the book: “What’s so wrong with spending too much time on a hobby?” and “Isn’t calling such living ‘ungodliness’ going a bit far?”
To such responses I say the following: “Read the book!” Highlight it. Pray over it. Study it as a group or alone. Just do not think you are above such subtle sins as these until you honestly study this book for out yourself.
Jerry Bridges has written another winner with Respectable Sins. It is no nail-biter and some day it might sound dated—but I am certain that history will look back at all of Jerry Bridges’ books and count them as classics of the Christian genre.
© 2010 E.T.
See More from Jerry Bridges:
- The Pursuit of Holiness (1978)
- The Practice of Godliness (1983)
- The Crisis of Caring (1985)
- True Fellowship (1985)
- The Discipline of Grace (1994)
- The Gospel for Real Life (2002)
- The Chase (2003)
- Respectable Sins (2007)
Regarding your initial question of why God would create people that He would ultimately send to Hell, I challenge you to consider this thought: Without the sin He allowed first to grow in the heart of Lucifer and then in Adam and Eve, how could this great eternal God ever have displayed His mercy, grace, justice, righteousness, or Holiness? How could He have shown Himself to be the Savior, Redeemer, Deliverer, and Judge? Without the sin that He allowed, His full character could never have been glimpsed. His eternal wisdom works that which results in His glory most. How can we pots complain to the Potter? If we agree that He is All-in-All, then He alone matters. The question then isn’t “why would He send people to Hell”, but why would He choose to save? He’s the Creator. He’s the supreme. His glory alone matters, and He could be glorified by punishing sin in the way it deserves. But He send His Son to save. And He gets more glory because of it. So rather than bemoaning the fact that some are going to Hell, we need to get the message to those damned souls that salvation actually exists. Jesus Christ came to a damned world and took God’s wrath on Himself. He paid for the sins of the world, not so that what we do doesn’t matter and so that “we’re all God’s children” by default, but “so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life,” (John 3:16) “for by grace you [can be] saved through faith. This is not your own doing. It is the gift of God. It’s not the result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Eph 2:8-9)
I understand that the book is about sins and the wrongs that we have done. The flaws that God over looks as we continue and strive to better on a daily basis. It just hard for me to believe that after the so call “God” created woman and man. He would abandoned them to potentially send them to hell. Why you might ask would the creater, the Alpha and Omega, create something to only destroy. So that they, his perfect creation live in pain, alone? I just don’t see eye to eye with someone who believes that. I cant seem to grasp an understanding on the differences between good and bad. Between Heaven and Hell. In my opinion or perspective. There is good and bad, wrong and right in everything. It’s how you interpret that good and bad that allows you so make your own standpoints and or opinions. I feel that Good and Bad are both one in a Universal sense. They are combined just like the creations of God are combined into him. To make one. Unity. I think that everyone can choose or decide their next day, week, even years on this earth. God is master. Meaning there is but one. The ending will conclude that he ” God” which is male nor female, is thriving inside each one of us. Only if you listen will you find your true purpose in life. The road is long and rough. Just continue to travel by the inner light that resides inside of you. God is life.. life is love.. treat it well and love hard.