@rajk999said Things like gambling and drug use, would fall into the same category as living a life of drunkenness. Alcohol in moderate use is not a sin but drunkenness is a sin. Same with gambling, and drug abuse.
You can also gamble in moderate amounts and use drugs like marijuana in moderate amounts as well.
My point is that the bible cannot possible mention all sins, but the principle of what makes it a sin is there.
Understood, but I wasn't claiming the Bible has to. The point is that there are some "sins" which are believed to be sins though there's no clear reason to believe it is. If you play slots at a Casino but only spend a moderate, affordable amount of money, there's no reason to think it's a sin.
EDIT: someone brought up sex trafficking, which is not mentioned in the Bible. I don't include that as an example, but the reasons why that would be a sin are self-explanatory, unlike gambling or marijuana use.
@vivifysaid You can also gamble in moderate amounts and use drugs like marijuana in moderate amounts as well.
My point is that the bible cannot possible mention all sins, but the principle of what makes it a sin is there.
Understood, but I wasn't claiming the Bible has to. The point is that there are some "sins" which are believed to be sins though there's no clear reason to ...[text shortened]... ple, but the reasons why that would be a sin are self-explanatory, unlike gambling or marijuana use.
I agree. Drug use and smoking marijuana are not sins.
Masturbation
Is strongly inferred to be wrong by Jesus who said “any man who looks at a woman and lusts after her in her heart, commits adultery”. Pretty clear.
This is not so pretty clear at all. I dont think the way many churches interpret this passage is correct. Take for example:
David and Bathsheba. She must have been one spectacular woman, for a God fearing man [a man after Gods own heart], and with hundreds of wives and concubines at his beck and call, to go lusting after her and to commit murder and adultery to boot. There must have been thousands of men who lusted after Bathsheba. But they wont all be condemned. Many will say or think" .. she is hot, I wish I had a woman like that , but will never do anything given the opportunity.. " Its the ones who will act if they had the opportunity to sin are the ones that are guilty. Those who knew Davids story and said the would have done like David if they were King, then they have also sinned.
In the case of the thief on the cross, the principle is the same. Jesus knew that the man would have lived a righteous life had he lived. Hence Jesus did not condemn him. A profession of faith alone means nothing if the persons heart is not right with God. Thinking that Bathsheba is a hot woman is not a sin. If God did not place this desire in all men then Gods plan for procreation to fill the earth with people like the sand of the sea, would fail.
@vivifysaid Christians believe in some acts as a "sin" even though the Bible doesn't even mention it.
Perhaps the biggest one:
Abortion. Not mentioned anywhere in the Bible. Christians believe it's a sin because it's the killing of an unborn, which in the minds of Christians, amounts to murder.
Drug use. Christians are okay with drinking since even Jesus did so, but not oka ...[text shortened]... iginated a few generations ago. I don't know if anyone still says this, but I've heard this before.
These are what I have called in other posts "pharisaical sins". "Sins" against men (not God) who claim to know the mind of God in order to punish those who disagree with them.
Another word for them might be "political sins".
The people who charge others with these "sins" want nothing more than to use them to drive how others think of those they claim have sinned. They care little for the souls of those who do these things, they wish to hide their own actual sins by distracting others.
@suziannesaid These are what I have called in other posts "pharisaical sins". "Sins" against men (not God) who claim to know the mind of God in order to punish those who disagree with them.
Another word for them might be "political sins".
The people who charge others with these "sins" want nothing more than to use them to drive how others think of those they claim have sinned. The ...[text shortened]... e souls of those who do these things, they wish to hide their own actual sins by distracting others.
You have a reference from the bible for this differentiation between sins against man vs sins against God?
@rajk999said Thinking that Bathsheba is a hot woman is not a sin. If God did not place this desire in all men then Gods plan for procreation to fill the earth with people like the sand of the sea, would fail.
I agree.
There is, however, a saying from Jesus. "He who looks upon a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
There is, however, a saying from Jesus. "He who looks upon a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
Edit: heh, I see this point is already made.
The interesting thing about lust and sexual immorality, is that in both the old and new testaments, God and Jesus spent less time talking about these as sins and more time emphasising greed and selfishness, lies and deceit as more serious sins.
The attitude and focus of many churches is the polar opposite.
@suziannesaid Paulists also have this problem of valuing the 'letter of the law' over the 'spirit of the law'.
How does the abortion issue look, according to your Christian beliefs, when seen through your prism of "the letter of the law" and "the spirit of the law"?
@vivifysaid Gambling. Not mentioned in the Bible. I'm not sure exactly why this one is believed to be a sin, usually by more traditional Christians.
Gambling.
I can see how this could be morally unsound if others were affected negatively by a person deriving entertainment from gambling, e.g. misuse of resources, more important things neglected etc.; and I can see how that kind of thing might be framed as "sinning" too, perhaps.
I don't see, however, how gambling ~ in and of itself ~ is either immoral or "sin".
@vivifysaid Christians believe in some acts as a "sin" even though the Bible doesn't even mention it.
Perhaps the biggest one:
Abortion. Not mentioned anywhere in the Bible. Christians believe it's a sin because it's the killing of an unborn, which in the minds of Christians, amounts to murder.
Drug use. Christians are okay with drinking since even Jesus did so, but not oka ...[text shortened]... iginated a few generations ago. I don't know if anyone still says this, but I've heard this before.
One of the Commandments is "honor thy father and mother".
Does this mean that not honoring your parents is a sin? If a child disobeys their parents (barring obvious reasons like they told a child to kill) has that child committed a sin?
Or if you don't keep the Sabbath (another Commandment), are you actively sinning?
"Sins" that are not in the Bible
24 Mar '21 16:351 edit
Back to Top