3 reasons why “i was born this way” is not a valid excuse

First let me clarify that when say that “I was born this way is not a valid excuse” I am speaking to those who would claim Christianity as their religion and yet live a lifestyle that is at odds with scripture. Not a particular lifestyle, but any lifestyle that doesn’t portray the supremacy of a life lived in and for Christ.

Here are 3 reasons why “i was born this way” is not a valid excuse

1. Personal experience isn’t the basis for the Christian faith. The new birth is the basis for the Christian faith. When a person says I was born this way what they’re really saying is that , as far as their personal experience goes they’ve had a desire, or a predilection, or an orientation if you will, for as long as they can remember. I get that, I really do! And I can’t disagree with their personal experience. I’d even go as far to say that was my personal experience as well. I was born with a certain orientation that didn’t line up with what the Bible says is right, true and holy. We all were!

The writer of Psalm 51 puts it this way – Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.  Romans 3 tells us that “None is righteous” (verse 10) and all have sinned (verse 23). 

But God has provided a solution to our predilections and orientations – Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

God tells us through the prophet Ezekiel – And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26).

And Paul writes to the Corinthians – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Personal experience isn’t the basis for the Christian faith. The new birth is the basis for the Christian faith.

2. Popular opinion isn’t the basis for truth. Scripture is the basis for truth. Truth isn’t established by critical mass, doesn’t crumble under the test of time nor is it subject to or swayed by popular opinion.

Truth, by definition is absolute, and God has provided us with a source of objective truth – 66 books, written by 40 different authors over  the span of several millennia and conveniently collected all together into what we call the Holy Bible. 

And contrary to popular opinion the Bible is historically and scientifically accurate (check this out http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/b_proof.shtml) , doesn’t contradict itself and is relevant for today.

As Paul tells Timothy – All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16)

Popular opinion isn’t the basis for truth. Scripture is the basis for truth.

3. Pleasure or desire isn’t the basis for morality. Obedience [to God’s Word, His expressed will] is. On the surface that may seem like an obvious statement, but think about this with me for a moment: We want what we want. Desires and the ability to experience pleasure is part of our God given make-up. Which should draw us to the conclusion that God wants us to experience pleasure.

But from the beginning we humans have been repeating the same mistake of thinking that desire and the promise of pleasure trump the expressed will of God.

And by doing so we replace God with self. We try to become our own god.

We see it begin in Genesis 3:4-6 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

James describes process like this –  But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (James 1:14-15)

And then explains how we short circuit this process – But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22)

Bottom line…

Pleasure or desire isn’t the basis for morality. Obedience [to God’s Word, His expressed will] is.

These are three main reasons why I believe that “I was born this way” is not an excuse for not living as God intended.

The only reasonable response to what God has done on our behalf through Jesus Christ is to offer our entire lives to Him, and refuse to bend to personal experience, popular opinion and human desire, but instead discover the expressed will of God and do it. (See Romans 12:1-2)