Do we think of sin as a big deal or something akin to a minor infraction? How does our view of sin impact the way we treat it?
The decades of Christian education tell me that I should answer the first question with the response that sin of any kind is definitely a big deal. That there are no differences in the types/ways that we can sin. But I also know that I can’t honestly say that I truly think of it that way all the time. The “human” part of me will rationalize some sins as a “minor infraction” and view some other sins as “serious infractions”.
I’ve been taught that “sin” is essentially the opposite of God, and “to sin” is “to miss the mark”. The mark being the standards that God has asked us to live by. When we fail to meet that standard, whether it’s just by a little bit (e.g. not honouring your parent by saying something disrespectful in a moment of anger) or a lot (e.g. planning and carrying out a series of murders), we’ve still failed. It’s binary.
Sometimes as humans, we can fall into the trap of not seeing sin as binary but seeing it as something that that has degrees of seriousness. When we view sin with the latter perspective, it could make it easier for us to feel less guilty when we commit a “small” sin, or to justify committing a “small” sin in the short term (e.g. act now, apologize later). Then this kind of thinking could lead to a slippery slope, whereby it’s easier to commit certain sins more often.
What do you think — how do you view sin? Do you feel less guilty when you commit certain sins over others?
