Degrees of Sin - Part 1

Some time ago, I was engaged in a conversation with friends, and the issue of sin among professing Christians was raised, in a typical fashion it generated a whole new discussion about whether or not some sin is worse than others. Nonetheless, there was a difference of opinion, which generated a short but lively conversation that ended without agreement. However, it did cause me to ponder the basis on which Christians view this differently.

I want to acknowledge “blasphemy of the Holy Spirit” as an unpardonable sin but shelve it for the benefit of discussing sin in terms of our unrighteousness before God.

Some believed that murder, for example, was a far greater sin than stealing candy from the corner shop. In other words, Hitler is guilty of greater sin (not the volume of sin) than a child stealing from the corner shop. This argument presumes that both parties are conscious of their actions and aware of right or wrong. From this extreme example, it was suggested that God views murder as a more serious sin than stealing.

My view is, that there are no degrees of sin, sin is sin, and it doesn’t discriminate in levels, nor does God apply judgement, or requirements for salvation, on the severity of the sin. What sin does is more serious than sin itself, Man is separated from God, and degrees of sin don’t change the degree of separation. Thus restoration from sin is also not determined by degrees of sin but based on faith alone. Humanity introduces laws and statutes that control civil society, laws which judge, excuse, or punish levels of right and wrong. It cannot be said that because humanity discriminates on the degree of right and wrong according to its social dictates, God also discriminates based on the same dictates. Nor is God influenced by personal views on sin, or the emotional attachment we might place on behavior, we consider worse than others.

True, I’m trying to generate discussion! Therefore, you might consider replying with your view on this matter. If you consider yourself a Christian, I would appreciate the dialogue, hopefully with some foundation in scripture, and not simply views emanating from an emotional preference. The burden of orthodoxy is in the evidence, and while we may have a civil or emotional view about degrees of sin, the Christian view must be derived from the word of God.