First of all, allow me to explain what moderation is all about spiritually; even though the term does not equate to a Biblical concept. There is no such conceptualizing as “sin in moderation”. Sin is simply sin. Anything that is against God is sin. The concept moderation is strictly a worldly concept. The Bible speaks of temptations. Ultimately, life is about choices (temptations). I want readers to clearly understand the difference between choices and temptations. In the writer’s humble spiritual understanding they are synonymous. Therefore, I will substitute the concept “choice” for the concept “tempted” used in scriptures. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1: 13-15). This scripture should help readers understand why the writer substituted choice for tempted. Bad choices invariably produce death. All human beings have free-will; therefore there is always “CHOICE”.
All scriptures are road maps to salvation, being born again spiritually, and learning to love and serve each other in Jesus’s name. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but god is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10: 12-13). (Over indulgence and pleasure-seeking activities; if not brought under control through God consciousness, can and often does lead to death). All individuals will find themselves being tempted by the devil and the things of this ole world; even our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was tempted by the devil. “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.” (Hebrews 2:18). Individuals suffer even when they simply think about bad choices, not only making bad choices. This is precisely why individuals cannot live free of sin. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7). My advice to all God-fearing Americans is leave it to Almighty God because “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.” (Psalms 7:11).
All of us can find comfort in this scripture: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1: 9-10). Self-righteousness is a sin in and of itself. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” Therefore, I strongly and spiritually advise all individuals to: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7). As Christians, we have a Great High Priest to help us fight through our temptations, because temptation is of the devil. Salvation is of God through Jesus Christ, because “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10: 9).
Jesus is the Great High Priest. “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus Christ the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace in help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4: 14-16).
All God-fearing Christians should be sober and vigilant in regards to the temptations of the world, because Christians should “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” (1 Peter 5:8-9). Christians be strong in the Lord, because all individuals are experiencing the same trials and tribulations. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6: 10-11).
Herein lies the crux of the problem. All individuals will be tempted by these things; even though it is still about “CHOICE”: “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whispers, backbites, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, and inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who, knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1: 28-32). Individuals should not get caught-up in the above mentioned abominable-sins. Sin and getting pleasure out of sinning is an abomination to God (reprobate-mind). Having a reprobate mind is to lack spiritual conscience or moral balance.
The Bible makes it perfectly clear: “But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.” (1 Timothy 5:6). She, in this Biblical context, is a unisex term meaning both females as well as males. Therefore, moderation in things such as “eating” is an essential spiritual character trait to living a successful life rather than simply experiencing material success in life. America’s gluttony for food causes Americans to waste twenty-one percent of the food produced. And, our greed for money and material possessions (things) has produced ungodly levels of family disintegration (Luke 12:15). Without a doubt, there is no such thing as moderation in sinning.
Life is not about extremes, but the in-between. In-between love and hate is the Jesus way-versus-the devil’s way. Therefore, all individuals have a “which-way” choice. And, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 14:12). It is written: “Let all things be done decently and in order.” (1 Corinthians 14:40). The Bible states nothing about moderation. On November 3, God-fearing Houstonians overwhelmingly defeated the so-called “Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO)” at the voting polls. HERO was in fact NERO in disguise. Anything that confuses children, and places them in harm’s way is evil, because children are a gift from God. “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” (1 Corinthians 14:33). Amen!