You cry out, “Why doesn’t the Lord accept my worship?” I’ll tell you why! Because the Lord witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows.

-Malachi 2:14, NLT

Religious cheaters are not satisfied with simply cheating.

They also want to look good in their community. They want both the illicit relationship and the reputation of being “a good person.”

This is why religious cheaters become enraged whenever someone dare point out how cheating and being righteous are incompatible with a truly biblical worldview. They have to choose between the affair partner or their reputation.

God does not allow them to have both.

Plus, those in the Christian community who actually know the true, living God will not allow them to have both either in their estimation of their character. You cannot both continue to cheat and then expect godly people to think you are “a good Christian” unless you repent.

That is how this works.

This desire to have the benefits of a solid relationship with God as well as the affair partner is not a new phenomenon. The verse quoted from Malachi 2:14 tells us as much. Religious cheaters were this way all the way back then as well.

What I find heartening is how God is not fooled by such behavior. He knows what is going on and will not be played!

That ought to give a cheater pause. If they really cared about their relationship with God, the path is clear: Repent!

Sadly, many cheaters never will.