Christians don’t often admit this, but we have a list of sins that we find appalling and another that we find, well, acceptable. Some behaviors make us recoil in judgment, while others barely register on our moral radar.

We speak out against sexual immorality, violence, and addiction, and rightly so. But what about gossip, pride, greed, materialism, and unforgiveness? These are often ignored or even excused. A sharp tongue can be passed off as personality. An unforgiving spirit is dismissed as “boundaries.” Envy is rebranded as ambition. We minimize what makes us uncomfortable to acknowledge.

But sin is sin. What God calls unrighteous doesn’t become acceptable simply because it’s socially tolerated. The cross doesn’t just cover the “big” sins; it was necessary for every single one. Jesus’ death covers both the scandals that shock us and the quiet cancer that eats away at our hearts.

The call of Christ is not to be selectively holy, but wholly surrendered. Instead of excusing our “acceptable” sins, maybe it’s time we repent of them.

Because holiness isn’t about looking good, it’s about being made new in every way.