Theres certain sins that come to mind that we can clearly see don't effect other people directly. Things like inappropriate contentography, gluttony and many other types of sin that only seem to effect the person involved. My question is, is there any scripture that would lead us to believe that these type of sins only effect the sinner and not others? Or does all sin effect everyone even if not directly? I guess a sort of butterfly effect of sin?
The things we do can cause others to stumble and fall:
Romans 14:20-21
Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to let his eating be a stumbling block. 21
It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.
We shouldn't even do anything that appears evil to others, even if it isn't prohibited by the word of God
1 Thessalonians 5:22
Abstain from all appearance of evil
Here is the general principle:
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin
is death; but the gift of God
is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord
When we choose sin we are bringing death into our lives. If we are in sin, spiritually we are empty and have nothing to offer anyone except the death we are partaking in. One sin leads to another, and another, and another. There are no private sins because what is inside of you is going to come out and touch someone else. If it is death, death will come out of you. If it is life, life will come out of you.
An example I can give was, I was engaged in a sin that I felt wouldn't hurt anyone else. Well, right after I had partaken of it, I was met on the street by a Jehovahs witness. They started talking to me about their beliefs and because death was working in me, this anger came over me that I couldn't control. I ended up lashing out at them in anger and it was ugly. It was a terrible witness for Jesus Christ which probably hardened their heart to the gospel.
What is in us will come out:
Mark 12:34-35
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. 35The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure
Jesus is drawing a contrast between wicked and righteous people, but there is a principle that applies to believers. If we are feeding on garbage, garbage is all we will have to offer. If we are feeding on Jesus Christ, people will see His light in us and be drawn into the Kingdom.