Why do Evangelical American Protestants think 'a sin is a sin' but the Catholic Church sees degrees of sin?

Question

Why is the Catholic Church more capable of reasoning out that there must be some kind of supernatural ethical guidlines and punishment according to degree of cruelty or injustice as we at least strive for here on earth?
Why is it only the Evangelical American Protestants who think God must see a serial child rapist and murderer the same as he sees the person who stole a dollar?--Both worthy of heaven if they love him and are sorry and both equally worthy of hell if they don't?

And why is it the Catholic church believes in paying for your sins in the afterlife?--Which we would all HOPE to be true if someone got away with murder and never saw justice...

Yet Evangelicals talk the talk about abortion and homosexuality, yet what does morality matter to them at all when all it really comes down to is what you believe?

Answer 1

+ Mortal and Venial Sin +

1 John 5:16-17 - If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God and he will give him life. This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that you should pray. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.

Luke 12:46-48 - Then that servant's master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master's will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master's will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.

Catholics believe:

Mortal sin is a grave infraction of the law of God that destroys the divine life in the soul of the sinner (sanctifying grace), constituting a turn away from God. For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must be present: grave matter, full knowledge of the evil of the act, and full consent of the will.

Venial sin is a sin which does not destroy the divine life in the soul, as does mortal sin, though it diminishes and wounds it. Venial sin is the failure to observe necessary moderation, in lesser matters of the moral law, or in grave matters acting without full knowledge or complete consent.

But continual venial sin can slowly but surely totally separate you from God, placing you into the state of mortal sin.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt3sect1chpt1art8.htm#1854

+ Purgatory +

The concept of purgation is hinted at in the Bible. Here are a couple of places:

"But if someone's work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire." 1 Cor 3:15

"So that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Pet 1:7

Are you perfect now? Most people would say no.

Will you be perfect in heaven? Most people believe yes.

Purgatory (or purgation) is the process of God's love changing our imperfect selves on earth into perfect beings in heaven. Depending on the amount of change needed by different people, this can be an easy or slightly harder process. Everyone in purgatory is on his or her way to heaven. I do not think Mother Teresa of Calcutta had a very hard time of it.

+ Sources of Doctrine +

American Evangelical Protestants take the entire Bible literally and as their sole source for Christian doctrine.

The Catholic Church does not only use Holy Scripture for the basis of doctrine. The early Catholic church existed before and during the time that the New Testament was written (by Catholics).

Catholics also believe that the Holy Spirit was guiding the early church (and is guiding the church today) to make the correct choices about things like
- The Holy Trinity (which is also only hinted at in the Bible)
- Going to church on Sunday instead of Saturday (which is actually directly against one of the ten commandments)
- Which books to include in the New Testament?
- How do our imperfect selves on earth get to be perfect in heaven?

This second source of doctrine is called Apostolic Tradition.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art12.htm#1030

+ With love in Christ.

Answer 2

The same reason Republicans and Democrats disagree on things...its opinion. Catholics believe that stealing a loaf of bread to feed your family is not the same degree as murder. However some other demoninations believe that while that may make sense to US, to GOD its all the same (or rather, should all be avoided the same).

I would imagine neither side knows for sure how God would feel.

PS; I do find it ironic that those who feel "A sin is a sin" have no problem with eating pork, braiding your hair, mixing fabrics, etc. All of these are listed as sins in the bible too.

Answer 3

As humans we tend to think of sin in degrees of how much harm they cause. Stealing a candy bar certainly does less harm than molesting a child.

But let us refer to God's word for His opinon.

James had this to say.

James 2:10
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

The "Law" is one concept with ten "points", ten commandments make up the "whole law".

Jesus lumped together several sins in this passage that tell me He did not see sins in degrees of bad and worse

Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

See, He lists liers and thieves right in there with murderers. He made no distinction between the severity of sins in His opinion. They are all sins against God that must be avoided. Only humans think one sin is worse than another.

Answer 4

There are degrees of sin, as we see in the Law, that there were different punishments for different sins, some required a grain offering, some you were cast out from the people, some needed blood offering, some required death... Christ's death and resurrection covers ALL of them... His one Payment covers everything. But any sin, no matter how great or small sepperates you from God.

And just believing Jesus existed has nothing to do with Salvation, we are saved by Grace through Faith in Christ.. faith in Him and His sacrifice on the cross, but without a repentant heart (meaning you are actually sorry) you wont be forgiven for anything.

Answer 5

You know what... You mentioned a dollar stolen isn't as bad as murder. Maybe that is why 85% of all catholic diocese reported knowing of embezzlement going on in the church. 11% said it was amounts of more than $500,000. I did not make that statistic up I read it in time magazine or newsweek, one of the two. I have a really hard time listening to the catholic church define morality when it is so rank with corruption.

Answer 6

Man can (easily) evaluate 5 of 6 criteria. Perhaps the 'Catholic church is at least partially applying the 6th criteria (1 Samuel 16:7). (who, what, when, where, how (5) and why (the 6th)). The 'Protestant' denoms. have it available to them also presently; and perhaps some groups apply it. I do not agree with all 'Catholic' teachings/practices, if one is presently wondering).

Answer 7

Because Baptists and most of the others are stupid.

Jesus himself talked about degrees of sin. One of the worst sins is to commit an offense against a child. Jesus said someone who offends a little child, it would be better that he be weighted and thrown into the sea.

Baptists are basically idiots, and if you read their literature you will find that they hardly ever quote Jesus. They quote Paul and Peter and John and Timothy and just about anybody but Jesus.

That is beceause the words of Jesus contradict their doctrine more often than not.

Answer 8

Jesus taught repentance and forgiveness, and also not to judge.

Why should a man who was once a sinner, possibly even a rapist or murderer, who spent years in jail, repented of his sins, and tries his best to do the work of the Lord in his life and share the good news be less righteous in the eyes of the Lord than an average person who never truly repents of the little sins in their life such as petty theft, non-compliance with laws like speeding and paying their taxes, etc.

If Jesus says "all sins will be forgiven" and "whoever believes in Him will be saved" I think He meant it.

Also the apostle Paul was a terrible sinner before his change of heart and ministry began. He likely killed Christians in his years before coming to know Christ. So by your logic he cannot receive the same reward in heaven.

The Parable of the Generous Employer in Matthew 20 puts it best:

v.15Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Answer 9

There are many that believe that will be unpleasantly surprised when they stand before the great White Throne of God.
Yes it's about faith and believing.
But it's also about repentance, turning away from sin and doing it no more.
It's about obedience to God's word.

Answer 10

Religions are made and interrupted by men and often controled by them. The only one that knows is God and who knows what he/she has waiting for us when we die. My advise is to follow your instincts on the religions and lead a good life.