Are all sins equal?

[Blissman]

Are all sins equal? Suppose that you were able to prevent one of the following:


Murder

Rape

Child Abuse


Which one would you choose, and why?

 

[flicka]

Sins or crimes? Obviously all crimes are not equal. Sin is a whole other matter since it involves religious beliefs so I imagine you will get all kinds of anweres to this question.

 

[flicka]

::double post::

 

[Skellybones]

Are all sins equal? Suppose that you were able to prevent one of the following:


Murder

Rape

Child Abuse


Which one would you choose, and why?

Rape and child abuse can at times be the same thing, therefore I would choose "sexual assault".

 

[Havoc]

That's the problem with "sin". The concept of sin rates all sns as being equally heinous, but common sense tells us that torturing and sexually abusing a child to death is much, much worse than neglecting to pay your telephone bill. Yet the SIN concept not only sees them the same, but punishes them the same.

The concept of Sin results in injustice.

 

[Prufrock]

the concept of sin rates all sns as being equally heinous

How can an abstraction make a value judgement? Some people hold that all sins are equally heinous. Also sin concepts don't see or punish. I think what you are saying is that God rates all sins as equally heinous. I don't agree with you. I think God might have a common sense about him too.

As for the OP, is this a dilemma? can I prevent all three? If I were all alone and in one locked room someone was being ed, in the other d, and in the other abused and I had only one device to enter a room, I would stop the . I always d these in ethics class. It depends on my relationship with these people and how much I care about them of course, but all else held equal, most infringes on the freedoms of others, I suppose.

So what do I have to do to prove that I'm moral enough to use the word (r word that ends in ape) without being (the n word that ends in aughty)?

 

[AnCiEnT1]

How can an abstraction make a value judgement? Some people hold that all sins are equally heinous. Also sin concepts don't see or punish. I think what you are saying is that God rates all sins as equally heinous. I don't agree with you. I think God might have a common sense about him too.

As for the OP, is this a dilemma? can I prevent all three? If I were all alone and in one locked room someone was being ed, in the other d, and in the other abused and I had only one device to enter a room, I would stop the . I always d these in ethics class. It depends on my relationship with these people and how much I care about them of course, but all else held equal, most infringes on the freedoms of others, I suppose.

So what do I have to do to prove that I'm moral enough to use the word (r word that ends in ape) without being (the n word that ends in aughty)?

A good point but however not true.... A sin against god is a sin gainst god and shall be judged the same... However he will also forgive those who ask for it as well.. How could a god of "common sense" so to speak weigh the sins of an adulterer differently than a murderer? Did god not say to not do either? Gods will is his command, to disobey his command is a sin regardless and still hurts the soul as result. If you break a commandment as small as coveting you think that if you do not repent that god will just decide that its not that big of a deal and look the other way? ....

 

[Emmy]

God has given us His Law,to break it is a sin.Jesus gave us two commandments which combine all ten commandments,God gave us.1st.Love your God with all your hearts,all your minds and all your souls.2nd.Love your fellow beings as you love yourselves.Sin against these commandments and you sin against God and yourselves.All good deeds reap their own rewards and all bad deeds reap their own punishments.God`s Law stands forever.A sin is a sin and will carry its own punishment,sooner or later everybody will pay.Greetings,Emmy.

 

[12volt_man]

Are all sins equal? Suppose that you were able to prevent one of the following:


Murder

Rape

Child Abuse


Which one would you choose, and why?

How are these two questions related?

 

[Archivist]

There is a difference between sin and crime. In the eyes of God all sins are equal. In the eyes of man all crimes are not.

As to which one of the three crimes you listed that I would choose to stop, it would depend on the situation.

 

[Spear Man]

There is a difference between sin and crime. In the eyes of God all sins are equal. In the eyes of man all crimes are not.

All sins are not equal in the eyes of God. 1 John 5:16-17 tells us that some sins are deadly and some sins are not. They are deadly because they lead to spiritual death, i.e. eternal death.

 

[Archivist]

All sins are not equal in the eyes of God. 1 John 5:16-17 tells us that some sins are deadly and some sins are not. They are deadly because they lead to spiritual death, i.e. eternal death.

Actually the NIV Study Bible quotes this as "There is sin that leads to death...and there is sin that does not lead to death." It does not say "spiritual death." If you read the footnote it indicates that there is disagreement as to the meaning of these verses. Some say that these words mean that some sins will cause physical death and others won't, others support your view while others say that this refers directly to thr Gnostics' interpretation of scripture. So it isn't as clear as you say.

 

[Spear Man]

Greetings Archivist:

Actually the NIV Study Bible quotes this as "There is sin that leads to death...and there is sin that does not lead to death." It does not say "spiritual death." If you read the footnote it indicates that there is disagreement as to the meaning of these verses. Some say that these words mean that some sins will cause physical death and others won't, others support your view while others say that this refers directly to thr Gnostics' interpretation of scripture. So it isn't as clear as you say.

I think when you take the whole Bible message on sin and death, the context of 1 John 5 is pretty clear.

For example look at Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 5:5 and 1 Corinthians 6:9 and you will find sins that do lead to spiritual death. If all sins were the same, then why would the writers continually write out grave sins and not just say "sin?" This makes not sense theologically or even logically.

 

[Archivist]

Greetings Archivist:



I think when you take the whole Bible message on sin and death, the context of 1 John 5 is pretty clear.

For example look at Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 5:5 and 1 Corinthians 6:9 and you will find sins that do lead to spiritual death. If all sins were the same, then why would the writers continually write out grave sins and not just say "sin?" This makes not sense theologically or even logically.

Salutations Spear Man!

My point was that there does appear to be much disagreement as to the exact interpretation of these verses, as indicated by the footnote in the NIV Study Bible that I cited. I think this is an issue upon which we will have to agree to disagree...if the theologians are still arguing over it then we are probably not going to come to agreement.

 

[Spear Man]

My point was that there does appear to be much disagreement as to the exact interpretation of these verses, as indicated by the footnote in the NIV Study Bible that I cited. I think this is an issue upon which we will have to agree to disagree...if the theologians are still arguing over it then we are probably not going to come to agreement.

Hello Archivist...

I can agree to disagree over this issue. I think that is much better than to digress into an argument which does nobody any good.

I am curious though... which Lutheran church are you a member? Missouri Synod or ELCA? I ask because I know some Lutherans who do not hold all sins are equal in the eyes of God. I'm just wondering is that your belief or is it Lutheran teaching? I look at Matthew 18:6 and see how upset Jesus is with, and the very stern warning to, anyone who would mislead/harm a child and it seems hard to imagine that other minor or venial sins (i.e. white lie) could be held on equal par with that?

God Bless...

 

[Archivist]

Hello Archivist...

I can agree to disagree over this issue. I think that is much better than to digress into an argument which does nobody any good.

I am curious though... which Lutheran church are you a member? Missouri Synod or ELCA? I ask because I know some Lutherans who do not hold all sins are equal in the eyes of God. I'm just wondering is that your belief or is it Lutheran teaching? I look at Matthew 18:6 and see how upset Jesus is with, and the very stern warning to, anyone who would mislead/harm a child and it seems hard to imagine that other minor or venial sins (i.e. white lie) could be held on equal par with that?

God Bless...

I'm ELCA. And no, I do not know what the ELCA's official position would be regarding this issue.

God bless you as well!