To obey is better than sacrifice.
1 Samuel 15:22 KJV
Redefining sin is not a new trend—we can trace it as far back as the time of King Saul, and even beyond. In 1 Samuel 15, God gave Saul a clear command: destroy the Amalekites completely. But Saul obeyed only in part. He spared King Agag and kept the best livestock, claiming he meant to offer them as sacrifices to God.
It looked spiritual, but God wasn’t impressed. What Saul called worship, God called rebellion. His verdict was clear: “Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry” (1 Samuel 15:23). Saul’s intentions didn’t override his disobedience.
Meanwhile, God doesn’t applaud selective obedience dressed up as devotion. When we redefine sin, we’re not deceiving God—we’re distancing ourselves from Him.
Today, the word sin makes many uncomfortable. Culture calls it outdated or offensive. So, instead of naming it, we reframe it: lust becomes “chemistry”, pride becomes “confidence”, rebellion becomes “authenticity”, sexual immorality becomes “personal freedom”, and dishonesty becomes “strategy”.
The conscience isn’t seared in one day—it fades slowly. What once convicted us now feels normal. And tragically, even churches avoid naming sin to seem less “judgmental.” In this climate, conviction becomes opinion, and truth turns negotiable.
Are you making excuses instead of repenting? Have you ever justified what God has clearly called sin? Has your conscience grown silent where it once screamed?
When we redefine sin to match society, we erase the boundaries God established. Once those lines blur, everything else—our worship, our families, and our purpose—starts to crumble.
Are you a believer cohabiting before marriage and saying, “We’re committed; God sees our hearts.”? Are you a Christian influencer who promotes self-love over self-denial, ignoring Jesus’ words: “Let him deny himself.”? Does your church avoid topics like hell, purity, or judgment, focusing only on feel-good messages?
Each of these blurs the line between righteousness and rebellion—until eventually, there’s no line at all. But God has not changed. He doesn’t evolve with society. His Word remains settled, His truth eternal.
“Be ye holy, for I am holy.” – 1 Peter 1:16
“Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” – Psalm 119:89
If we keep redefining sin, we will never truly confess it. And without confession, there can be no forgiveness. We don’t preserve truth by softening it—we preserve it by submitting to it.
Living it Out
Examine your life. Where have you shifted your stance to avoid discomfort? Restore the fear of the Lord in your decisions. Call sin what God calls it. Choose conviction over convenience, truth over trend, and repentance over relevance.