Are all sins equal?

[Little Horn]

Originally Posted by Peace Keeper

As stated by someone earlier --lpxxfaintxx

Blaspheming against the Holy Spirit is the only unforgivanle sin mentioned in the Bible.

Right. I mentioned this as well in my second or third post...

[Peace Keeper]

I apologize for not mentioning you then. My bad.

[Marshillboy]

Originally Posted by floorpuncher

Could you explain to me how it is possible to love someone as they are killing you?

Even as a Christian I find this concept hard to grasp. A rather old DC talk book called "Jesus Freaks" is quite mind blowing as it narrates the stories of hundreds of martyrs dying not in vain while hating their tormentors, but generally having a pity for them not realizing what they're doing wrong with their lives.

Originally Posted by floorpuncher

The term Christian means "Christ Like" does it not? it is a word that is used to associate characteristics of Jesus Christ with everyday people correct? The idea of a "Christian" sinning is hypocritical in and of itself. And that is something that is worthy of my contempt. I would not go so far as to say that I HATE them all but I do harbor a very intense dislike and disgust for someone who claims to be a "Christian" and does not live as such especially if they are a minister or preacher or some form of clergy.

The term Christian literally means "little Christs". It originated as a derogatory term from people mocking worshipers of Jesus as being "little Christs". However, instead of taking offence, they instead adopted the name as a permanent term to describe themselves.

Indeed, it is rather disgusting when a Christian official or pastor spreads the Good News during the day, then has a secret life "at night". This sort of behavior, under proper church discipline, usually results in the removal of such pastor/etc. from their position and possibly shunning from the church unless proven to have changed his/her ways.

[Little Horn]

Originally Posted by Marshillboy

Indeed, it is rather disgusting when a Christian official or pastor spreads the Good News during the day, then has a secret life "at night". This sort of behavior, under proper church discipline, usually results in the removal of such pastor/etc. from their position and possibly shunning from the church unless proven to have changed his/her ways.

Unless of course, we are speaking of Catholic priests diddling little boys...

Originally Posted by Marshillboy

Even as a Christian I find this concept hard to grasp. A rather old DC talk book called "Jesus Freaks" is quite mind blowing as it narrates the stories of hundreds of martyrs dying not in vain while hating their tormentors, but generally having a pity for them not realizing what they're doing wrong with their lives.

This is most interesting. Is this a work of fiction or a factual based/informative read? What is the basis of the book as a whole?

[Marshillboy]

Originally Posted by floorpuncher

This is most interesting. Is this a work of fiction or a factual based/informative read? What is the basis of the book as a whole?

It's a factual based read, with stories of martyrdom ranging from Biblical times to modern day. The "modern day" being 1997 or so, because I think that's when it was written.

You can read about the general synopsis, reviews, etc. here:

Amazon.com: Jesus Freaks: Stories of Those Who...

[Little Horn]

Originally Posted by Marshillboy

It's a factual based read, with stories of martyrdom ranging from Biblical times to modern day. The "modern day" being 1997 or so, because I think that's when it was written.

You can read about the general synopsis, reviews, etc. here:

Amazon.com: Jesus Freaks: Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus, the Ultimate Jesus Freaks: DC Talk and the Voice of the Martyrs: Books

Sounds like it may be a good read. I'll check it when I finish reading The Encyclopedia of Hell...

[Zunesi]

Well i think all sins are equal in God's sight but obviously they're not in human standards,
Black and White, sin, not sin etc
As Dark616 said in the first reply, all sins 'put a wall between us and God' which is why sin is so terrible,
It doesn't matter what you do but if it puts a wall between you and God then it's bad,
I think the reason sins are all equal is because of the punishments etc involved,
If you have any kind of sin tainting your soul you go to hell end of story even if you've only lied once,
But also the wall can be broken by asking for forgiveness,
If sins were all measured then surely there would be worse punishments for those who did worse things and for people who i.e. lied, instead of having to ask for forgiveness from God himself they would just have to i.e. make things right or something along the lines of that,
Hope you understand what i'm on about

[Little Horn]

Originally Posted by Zunesi

Well i think all sins are equal in God's sight but obviously they're not in human standards,
Black and White, sin, not sin etc
As Dark616 said in the first reply, all sins 'put a wall between us and God' which is why sin is so terrible,
It doesn't matter what you do but if it puts a wall between you and God then it's bad,
I think the reason sins are all equal is because of the punishments etc involved,
If you have any kind of sin tainting your soul you go to hell end of story even if you've only lied once,
But also the wall can be broken by asking for forgiveness,
If sins were all measured then surely there would be worse punishments for those who did worse things and for people who i.e. lied, instead of having to ask for forgiveness from God himself they would just have to i.e. make things right or something along the lines of that,
Hope you understand what i'm on about

But what about denouncing God like I said earlier and LPX had referenced in Mark 3:29? Sure you would agree that the fact that there is no forgiveness for this means that at least this one is worse than all the others...

[BobtheWalrus]

Originally Posted by Marshillboy

The term Christian literally means "little Christs". It originated as a derogatory term from people mocking worshipers of Jesus as being "little Christs". However, instead of taking offence, they instead adopted the name as a permanent term to describe themselves.

I've always wondered why it isn't Christism, or some other -ism

Thanks

[Trogdor]

Originally Posted by floorpuncher

Also I'm not religious at all. Far from it.

I thought you were a satanist isn't that a religion?

Originally Posted by floorpuncher

On subject of Christians being "Christ Like"...

I think that this is where Christianity shoots itself in the foot. On one hand you are told to love your neighbor regardless of his/her transgressions. On the other hand you are told that it is a sin to be gay, it is a sin to worship other gods, it is a sin to give into lust and you are taught intolerance of all these things and more through out the entire Bible. How can you teach about wickedness and then expect people to love the wicked ones? It's not in our nature to do so and regardless of how hard religion may try to erase all traces of our animalistic instincts it will never succeed in doing so.

Here is how I look at some of these things, I know a few gay and bisexual people, yet I don't mock or even bring it up when I talk to them, if I ever thought a man was attractive (that has not happened) I simply wouldn't act on it.

The saying, "There's a God shaped hole in all of us." applies here, I try to motivate myself to do what he would and escape all animalistic instincts.

For example a guy I used to play football with found out I was good friends with his ex so he told me to burn in hell and I simply didn't do anything instead of replying with a comment like, "You first" like I wanted to.

[Little Horn]

Originally Posted by Trogdor

I thought you were a satanist isn't that a religion?

We're just splitting hairs here. Perhaps I should explain that when I use "religion" or 'religious" I'm speaking colloquially. Yes I'm well aware of the fact that by definition even Atheism or Satanism is a religion. I apologize for not explaining myself completely. I just assumed that everyone would understand whatI was implying.

Originally Posted by Trogdor

Here is how I look at some of these things, I know a few gay and bisexual people, yet I don't mock or even bring it up when I talk to them, if I ever thought a man was attractive (that has not happened) I simply wouldn't act on it.

Let me ask you this... Do you think that homosexuality is a choice? Do you believe that every gay person in the world chooses to be gay?

[Hostile]

Yeah I also agree. I think the Bible teaches us that all sins are equal and God will forgive any of them if we ask him to. The only sin that isn't forgivable is suicide. I also believe us as humans do not hold all sins as equal. Like killing a person vs. using the lord's name in vain.

[Zunesi]

Originally Posted by floorpuncher

But what about denouncing God like I said earlier and LPX had referenced in Mark 3:29? Sure you would agree that the fact that there is no forgiveness for this means that at least this one is worse than all the others...

I guess, I always thought the 'unforgivable sin' was the term used for when you've heard about God multiple times but refuse to act and keep rejecting him and then eventually God basically gives up on you (for want of a better phrase),
Also with what LPX wrote about sins not being equal i think they may have used words like 'great' and 'least' to make us understand it more whereas in God's sight there are all in fact equal, anyway even if all sins are not equal how would we know? There is no difference between lying and murdering as far as i can see, if you ask for forgiveness you go to Heaven, if you don't you go to Hell, even though mudering would be called a 'worse'/'greater' sin than lying.
Also with the 'unforgivable sin', we all know the Bible can be hard to understand and certain things can be interpreted in different ways and:

Mark 3:29

But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.

could be a way of explaining the constant rejection of God that ends in him giving up on you (for want of a better phrase).

[cbogg23]

Through Gods eyes...all sins are equal