Are all sins equal?

[Chickenshavenolips]

Just following on from the 'Homosexuality in the classroom' thread. Are all sins equal, according to the bible? And do all religions have 'sins'?

All sins separate us from God.

Yes, but are some sins worse than others?

There are only 2 types of sins in the bible, sin and sinning against the Holy Spirit.

The latter being the more severe than the former.

Apparently Chickenshavenolips. However most religious folk seem to have their top 10, usually number 1 being all the sins that are done to them but not including the sins they do to others

Expecting perfection from humans is a recipe for low self esteem and manipulative behaviour IMO

As far as I am aware (dredging up Theology degree)!!

There are sins

And there is "the sin against the Holy Spirit" ie rejecting everything about God.

Apart from that in God's eyes all sins are equal.

However, in the Church's eyes, sexual sins trump them all!!!

Ok. Can you define sinning against the spirit for me? Is it different to 'normal' sin? I've never heard that before.

Ah, x-posted.

weegiemum has done a good summary.

Only thing to add is that sexual sin comes with different consequences to non-sexual sin which is why churches get het up about it IYSWIM

Oh? What are the consequences for sexual sin? Is it seen as worse than murder?

I read up all about it and now have forgotton most of it

But if you are a believer then the Holy Spirit dwells in you so that is a big factor, marriage is also a covenant with God not just each other.

Consequences are your relationship with God being affected negatively.

Eating the last Rolo is the greatest sin of all....
or perhaps leaving the loo seat up

The consequences of sexual sin are quite obvious - unwanted pregnancy, STD, people get hurt when there's an affair, lack of committment, mismatched expectations.

I don't agree that churches have a special view of sexual sin, but the reason there are 'rules' (per the Sermon on the Mount) is because people get hurt.

All sins have the same result in separating us from God. That's what a sin is, so there is no concept of big and small sins. It is not exactly the same as an earthly misdemeanour, where there are big (eg murder), and smaller (eg petty theft) ones, and there are earthly consequences for these things. Sin includes things that are perfectly legal, eg gossip, and includes your thoughts and words as well as deeds.

However, our sins have already been paid for by Jesus on the cross.

Can i chip in and say, in God's eyes all sin is sin, but as Christians we must live in the world and the world will always view there being different levels of sins.

So all sin worldly will be punished differently and according to what the sin is. You cant stop that, you cant change it, but we must VIEW each other as all being sinners, equal in God's eyes. The murderer is loved the same by God as the petty thief, who is loved the same as me for lying to get out of something.

I was told if you are worrying you have commited sinning against the Holy Spirit, you haven't. Do others agree with that??

The sexual sin thing. Some Christians sadly put more emaphasis on that, espesh sexualiy and i think that is so sad. All sin is sin and to zone in on something i believe is wrong of us.

Our Lord is Good and Merciful