When you seek my approval for your sinful behavior, you’re asking me to side with you against God (who has already said it is sinful) and to declare that it’s really not evil but is, in fact, good. “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness” (Isa. 5:20).

Children protest that their parents don’t love them because they won’t approve of all their friends, or all their music, or unlimited time on their electronic devices, or a thousand other things that children strongly desire. We see the absurdity of such a protest since it’s the parental disapproval of harmful things that is the act of love. Unloving parents don’t care about sinful excess, unless they interfere with the parent pursuing their own selfish desires. Loving parents are willing to have their children become unhappy, if the children’s short-term unhappiness leads to their long-term good and long-term happiness.

This is no less true when it comes to adult relationships. It’s not uncommon for an adult to choose a certain “lifestyle” that involves immoral behavior. God says the immoral behavior is a sin and that it’s harmful, even fatal. Nevertheless, this adult still insists on pursuing this sinful course, and they’re often free to do so. However, they want more than the freedom to act—they also demand the approval of others.

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