A few weeks ago I walked into Starbucks and ordered a treat for my husband along with my drink.

“Can I add a Rice Krispie Square to that too, please? Thanks.”

The barista raised one eyebrow at me and cocked his head to the side.

“Oh, you mean a Marshmallow Dream Bar,” he said nodding slowly like it had taken him a minute to decipher what I meant.

“Yeah, one of those,” I said slowly trying to gauge whether or not he was for real. Apparently he was.

I forgot all about my interaction with the cheeky barista until today when I stopped into Starbucks to pick up another treat for Michael on my way home. Honestly, and embarrassingly, I spent a good three minutes trying to decide whether I should say Rice Krispie Square or Marshmallow Dream Bar when ordering.

Something about Marshmallow Dream Bar just seemed awkward and even a tad ridiculous. Really, what person wants to look a stranger in the eye and order something called a Dream Bar? For some reason that name conjures up high school crushes and childhood aspirations of being an astronaut and has nothing to do with my real life.

I walked up to the counter and casually peered into the pastry case. Sure enough, there in big bold letters next to my husband’s favorite snack were the words “Marshmallow Dream Bar.”  

So, uncomfortably, awkwardly, I called it what it was and ordered it. When I got in the car I started to feel stupid for making such a big deal in my mind over what to call a simple dessert. But then I got thinking about other things in life that I have a hard time calling by their real names.

Gossip. This is not gossip. It’s a prayer request. Girlfriend has some drama going on and she could use some praying friends. Uh huh. Right.

Pride. Did Jill just get a haircut? She did. Look at her. She looks so cute. Where’s my cell phone? I’ve got to call my stylist. Competitive much?

Lying. That was not a lie. I was just stretching the truth. Besides, what some people don’t know can’t hurt them. Lies hurt much worse than the truth. Trust me.  

This list could go on forever. But the truth is everything on this list classifies as sin. While it’s easy to label it as something else or brush it off like it’s not a big deal that’s just not true.

Sin separates us from God. It sent Jesus to the cross. It is fatal if not treated with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Message version of Isaiah 59:2 says:

 There’s nothing wrong with God; the wrong is in you.

Your wrongheaded lives caused the split between you and God.

Your sins got between you so that he doesn’t hear.

It’s time we stop mislabeling sin and call it what it is so we can repent of it and restore our intimacy with God. We want Him to hear us. We might as well start by being honest and calling things what they are.

Is there something in your life you find yourself easily mislabeling? If so I’d love to hear about it in the comments section below.