Is it a sin not to point out another person’s sin?
Question:
I'm 17 years old and the only biblical-based Christian in my family at the moment. Hopefully, that will change soon. I know the Bible says that we must warn people of their wickedness or their blood will be on our hands ( Ezekiel 3:18-19). But must we point out obvious sin to a family member who already knows it's a sin? I have a homosexual cousin who used to go to church. When she first "came out," she asked me if Jesus still loved her. I told her "yes," but being young in my faith I didn't elaborate. I know God calls us all to turn from sin, but I don't know how to bring this up, or if I even should. Everyone would be really mad at me for saying anything. I also know that God's prophets were hated, beaten, and imprisoned for doing God's work so I guess my family being mad at me wouldn't be so bad.
Please help me understand what I should do. God bless you for your hard work.
Answer:
"Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: When I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul" (Ezekiel 3:17-21).
A watchman's duty is to warn the city of impending danger. It is the watchman's duty to deliver the warning, but the people of the city have their own responsibility. It is up to them whether they heed the warning or not. For most of Ezekiel's life, he delivered warnings from God that went unheeded by his fellow countrymen.
Your cousin knows she is sinning; thus, she received the warning and chose to ignore it. You can't make her listen. There will the times when the subject will come up again. Each time it does, try to give a point for her or her supporters can consider. "The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will" (II Timothy 2:24-26). The goal is to ultimately get her out of sin, but that might take a while. She won't leave sin because she is forced to but because she finally sees the danger of her sin.
God loves people enough to save them from their sins, but His justice will not allow a person to be saved while remaining in sin. "Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off" (Romans 11:22).
This will require you to make stands that your family won't understand. You have to consider whether you are giving the message that you support your cousin in her sin. For instance, I would not recommend attending a same-sex wedding because that is glorifying sin. When doing good causes others to get mad at you, you just have to focus on righteousness. "For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God" (I Peter 2:20).
Response:
Thank you so much! God bless you and y'all stay safe.
