Why did God say don't
What's wrong with it?
May 23, 2009
Why did God say don't
In my many years of preaching, and teaching the gospel of our Lord and savior, two of the most common questions I hear from people are: Why did God say don't do thus and thus and what's wrong with it? Sometimes these questions are born of curiosity, or the quest for knowledge, and sometimes they're born of frustration and confusion. No matter where the questions come from, and no matter what one's level of understanding of God's Word, they always lead to more unanswered questions. Consequently I am becoming increasingly frustrated with Christians who have an incessant need to explain God and why He said do or don't do a certain thing. Perhaps it is because what we choose to do or not to do is based on “reasons” if the “reasons for” are more compelling than “reasons against,” we do it. We Christians appear also to have an inherent social need to justify God and his commands. Such behavior is indicative of someone who find it necessary to to justify their decisions to other people. Why won't we or can't we simply concede we don't know why: because God didn't and in most cases don't tell us why. Instead we go about manufacturing reasons, which at best fall short of God's true intent. Try as we may we cannot adequately explain why God allows one thing and prohibits another. The short answer is because He said do it or don't do it. To a true believer if its evidenced in God's inspired word (The Bible) that God said it; that's reason enough. God has rules and laws that He gives no reason for, consequently the depth and strength of our faith in God is manifested in that we obey them even when we do not know the reason for them. So then this one man has conceded that God's ways are above finding out and in most cases I do not know why He said thus and thus.
“Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.”(Job 9:10 KJV) “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”(Rom 11:33 – 36 KJV) “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”(1Timothy 3:16 KJV)
There you have it. Knowing these things about God I acknowledge the fact that I don't know why sin is sin. Therefore I no longer spend countless hours trying to reason or explain why God said do or don't do thus and thus. But rather yet, other than idle curiosity, I'm only interested in if it is indeed God who said it and being very clear on what He said. Amen! Amen! Amen!
Although God doesn't tell us why sin is sin He leaves no doubt, through the witness of the scripture that he is not pleased with those who disobey his commands. What's wrong with disobeying any of God's commands is that it 's the most egregious form of disrespect one can exhibit. To disobey God is to reject his authority and suggest that we are not willing to follow his teachings because we are wiser than He. So once again before we commit ourselves to obedience we require a reasonable explanation of what's wrong with doing what God has asked us not to do. This, my friend is what the bible calls worldly wisdom and causes one to be in disfavor with God.
“Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: and a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.” (Deu 11:26 – 28 KJV)
So then God gives us choice. We in the same manner as an enfant submits to the sovereign authority of a parent; likewise without question submit ourselves to God and his commands. As dear children are under the care and nurturing of parents we to are under the watchful care of our creator until we learn to choose the good and reject the evil. Ever trusting in our Lord and Savior for he knows what's best for us for “it was he that made us and not we ourselves”.