Romans 14:23c for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

I get in more trouble with my Christian friends over my standing on God’s Word over the definition of sin. Most Christians want to define sin as missing the mark. You have a target of love and if you miss the target, that’s sin. They have a difficult time accepting my definition of sin, everything which is not of faith. They find that harsh and demanding.

Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

If you are living by faith, what does it matter how sin is defined? If God says that I should not, then I should not. No one has the right to substitute their own judgment above what God has instructed me to refrain from.

Is it a sin to have a sense of humor? No, but if your brand of humor hurts others, then God just might say “Stop that!” If the goal is to love, then anything that hinders love might be called upon to be sacrificed. I once had a wicked sense of humor, emphasis on wicked. He didn’t stop my sense of humor but changed how I use it. His warning came like this, “Not everyone appreciates your humor.”

Chastening doesn’t have to be harsh, if you will pay attention to that “still small voice”. It gets louder and harsher when you do not heed His warnings.