Respectable Sins
Do modern evangelicals care about their smaller sins? In Respectable Sins, Jerry Bridges shows how our subtle sins must still be addressed and overcome by the Gospel.
Sanctified and Set Apart
Opening with 1 Corinthians, Bridges begins his book by examining what it means to be a sanctified and set apart saint. Consistency in our calling means we must combat our sin. For conservative evangelicals, we are more prone to look outside of ourselves at the sins of others. Bridges challenges us to look within. By comparing sin to cancer, Bridges shows how sin can seem benign, but later metastasize. It is malignant.
The 9-week small group curriculum in this book is excellent. Suggested prayers, group talking points, and prompts for personal reflection and answer points are included. This book can be used well in a small-group setting or for personal devotions.
The Gospel and the Holy Spirit
The Gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit is the only solution for our sin. Identifying our subtle sins, Scripture and prayer, and involving other believers are several steps Bridges suggests before diving into specific sins.
What I appreciate most is how Bridges explains why some of these sins are actual sins against God. When speaking on anxiety, Bridges says that it is a distrust of God and a lack of acceptance of God’s providence in our lives. This gives an imperative as to why this sin is unacceptable. Tied with anxiety are worry and frustration, and Bridges does not pull any punches when addressing these sins.
Discontentment and Pride
When dealing with discontentment, Bridges brings us to Psalm 139:16. Our situations and circumstances bring about disappointment, but we must see God’s hand behind it all. Our Heavenly Father gives us what is good for us and what will bring him glory.
When dealing with pride, Bridges breaks it down to show us the different ways it may be displayed in our lives. Moral self-righteousness, pride of correct doctrine, pride of achievement, and an independent spirit are addressed. Selfishness is connected, and we see how love must overcome these sins.
Humility and Holiness
I was most impacted by the chapter on impatience, irritability, and anger. I saw how my anger towards others is actually anger towards God. A bonus study on “Battling Anger’s ‘Noxious Weeds’” further assessed my sins of resentment, bitterness, holding a grudge, and strife. I’m humbled but thankful for the help and practical wisdom in this book.
The book ends by looking at judgmentalism and sins of the tongue, as well as lack of self-control, envy, and jealousy. Competitiveness and controlling must be killed. Money, immorality, and idolatry are manifestations of worldliness. We must be in the world, not of the world. Unfortunately, modern Christians are sometimes difficult to tell apart from atheists. Christ calls us to more. He calls us to holiness. He calls us to kill even the subtle sins. He calls us to overcome.
This review was originally published in 2021. I received a media copy of Respectable Sins and this is my honest review. Find more of my book reviews and follow Dive In, Dig Deep on Instagram - my account dedicated to Bibles and books to see the beauty of the Bible and the role of reading in the Christian life. To read all of my book reviews and to receive all of the free eBooks I find on the web, subscribe to my free newsletter.