Is a "sinful act" the same for everyone?

Question

A lot of people believe sin is when you do something "bad" that is easy to define - there are "'good" things and "bad" things that apply to everyone, but is that really correct? Isn't sin more about doing "your own thing" and being outside of God's will?

What is sin for me (doing something outside God's will for MY life) may NOT be sin for you (if that's God's will for YOUR life.) Do you agree? Of course there are some things that are always sin - like murder, adultery, and the rest of the 10 comandments.

Answer 1

Mostly yes.

Sin is a deliberate thought, word, deed, or omission contrary to the eternal law of God.

There are some sins that are cultural, modesty for example. We should be modest. However the rules for modesty is cultural.

For a woman in the U.S. or England, walking around topless would be a sin against modesty. However in another culture, walking around topless would not be a sin at all.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Since I am an agnostic, I will say "No."

Most Protestants would say "Yes."

Most Catholics (who understand Catholicism) would say "No."

Catholics believe that sins come in three flavors: Original Sin, Venial Sins and Mortal Sins. They believe we are born with Original Sin -- and that is is washed away by baptism.

As for Venial vs Mortal sin, venial sins are minor. You aren't allowed into heaven if you die with venial sins on your soul. Instead you go to Purgatory, where your sins are purged. You are then let into heaven.

Mortal sin is so serious that if you die in a state of mortal sin, you go to Hell.

Now here is the thing about Catholics -- the sin is not in the action, it is in the intent. So, if someone commits what would ordinarily be a venial sin (in action) he could actually be committing a mortal sin. In order to be a mortal sin, something has to be a serious sin, the person has to know it is a serious sin & he has to do it anyway. The catch-22 is that if he thinks it is a serious sin -- but others don't, it is still a mortal sin.

Incidently, the reason for the differences in beliefs of Catholics and Protestants on this is that the justification for Purgatory is in the Apochrypha -- which are the books that Martin Luther decided should be deleted from the Bible.

Answer 3

You raise a very interesting question. Can something be a sin if someone doesn't know it's "wrong" to do it? On the other hand, if someone does know that God disapproves of a certain thing that everyone thinks is "ok"...it could very well be a sin for the person who knows he shouldn't be doing it.

An example from the scriptures is where God commands someone to kill someone else. This is clearly a "sin" if one looks at the ten commandments: "Thou shalt not kill". But if one is following a direct command from God, can it be a sin? Would it not be a sin to disobey?

It's an interesting paradox IMO.

Answer 4

I think it is the same for everyone, sinful act are clearly stated and frowned at in all religions book. sinful act are too numerous some stem from your relationship with God and others your fellow men/animals. There is this thing about sinful acts.......whenever you are about to undertake them your conscience speaks to you even if you are alone or in a group that conscience is the voice of God talking to you).

i dont agree that it is God's will for our lives if we sin, you mean that God should take responsibilities of all our actions? who gets the credit when you read hard for exam and come out successful? why do we go out to work and make a living since we know that God is our provider? there is no easy way out we are all responsible for our actions. God provides support and the Devil does too but only to our detriment.

Answer 5

"Sin" is an old archery term that simply meant "missing the mark".
You aim the arrow. let it fly and if you don't hit red, you sin.

The early church adoted this term to describe any situation in life when we miss the mark of God's perfect will.

Sin is doing something that God say's you shouldn't do, and also(people often miss this one) it is NOT doing something that God says you should do. These are called sins of comition and sins of omition.
Examples of both. "Thow shalt not steal." You steal thus you sin.
"Go defend that old lady who's being disrespected." Oh, err, well It's best not to get involved. She can stand up for herself. Someone else will, I have to be somewhere.

Both are sin in God's eyes.

Answer 6

The literal translation for the word sin in greek is "miss the target", so sin is everything you do that is agaist God's plan for your life. If you do something you know God doesn't aprove or like, that is a sin.

Answer 7

the in simple terms time I ever appeared at one in all those questions is they were from a sprint. I see no reason as i'm a awful choose of elegance anyhow. operating example I tell human beings Angilie Jolie is about as gruesome as Paris Hilton, or Brittany Spears. Self based each body is a large turnoff for me. elegance is ideal defined as actual attributes accented by using non-public characteristics that promote a more beneficial like-in a position man or woman who one ought to stay them (themselves).

Answer 8

Sin is breaking one of the Laws of Moses (over 600 laws)
Its the same for everyone!

Answer 9

You are right about not doing your own thing. But be careful, as your thinking may lead to relativism.

You can avoid this by staying in the Word, and following its instructions. The Holy Spirit will point things out to you if you ask Him to.

Answer 10

Well, it's not just bad stuff. I mean, is eating fruit from a tree bad?!?? No, it was because Adam And Eve mistrusted and disobeyed God. That could be sin to.