Is sin and evil/disobedience the same thing?

Question

All sin is equal in the eyes of God because the definition of sin is simply missing the mark or basically, not representing the character of God in our lives.

When we murder or when we lie we are sinning because it is not representing the character of God.

However, does that mean the some evil is more evil than others?

Does God care about the evil or just the fact we missed the mark in representing him here on the earth?

Does the mean we are justified in assigning varying degrees of 'evilness'?

The act of evil itself results in sin but is it the same?

Is the separation important? I think so. I can be liar but is that same as being a murderer? What will do more damage? I'm sure it is a point of view thing since some lies can result in death and some murder can result in saving another life.

I don't think they are the same. What do you think?

What are the implications of them being different things?

Answer 1

My take on it is that evil is not necessarily a sin nor is sin evil just because it is sin. The same could be said for disobedience.

I look at wiping out, man women and child, an entire city, race or country as a form of evil as well as taking captives as slaves or forced wives. These were actions approved of in the OT but were not considered sin.

Homosexual relations and adultery are considered sin, but there is no reason to consider them evil.

Answer 2

There is a definite difference between evil and sin. Sin is making a mistake, or disobeying God's laws, most likely out of passion or ignorance. Evil is actively working against God for that purpose.

As in all things, there is gradation in "sin." Murdering someone is clearly a lot worse than stealing a 25 cent piece of gum, though they're both wrong.

And, if you understand the law of Karma, which is basically an extended version of Newton's third law (every action has an equal and opposite reaction), you'll know that if you murder someone, you will be murdered (either in this life or in another), and if you steal something trivial from someone, a similar thing will happen to you.

As you sow, so shall you reap. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It's pretty straightforward.

Answer 3

I do not think stealing a cracker is the same thing as murdering someone in the eyes of God. I think the implications are in the punishment if the sinner does not repent. I think the punishment in hell must be worse for a murderer than it is for a cracker thief. But I acknowledge that only God will judge these things and only He knows how He will judge.

Answer 4

Oh yeaah, definitely different.

Sin is a construct to do with the church, and diverging from Church teachings. I suppose thus all sins are equal.

Evil has to do with ethics, so now what is evil has to do with what ethical viewpoint you take. You could be deontological, virtue or consequentialist. these be the three MAIN schools.

In psychology, divergence is a matter of not following social norms, so im not even gonna talk about that, as it has no link to ethics.

But from a moral relativist point of view (consequentialist/utilitarian), a greater "evil" is what does more harm.

Answer 5

You are taking idea from an organized religion which does not allow you to think logically but you should have faith in what they tell you.

But if you want to deduce and find the truth, you base of thought should not be any religious book.

If you perceive what is really happening, you may come to the conclusion that God does not care what you do as he has set the laws of cause and effect and you are rewarded or punished under that law.

Answer 6

Sin is sin is sin. The final punishment for any sin is hell.

The "degrees" of sin are usual assigned by how much harm the sin does to others. Oftern those "degrees" are man's opnion and not God's. For example, a person who looks at porn is not seen as being as evil as someone who rapes a child. But in God's eyes, both actions harm the person performing them (and God's sees harm to yourself as just as bad as harm to others). And both acts harm people around them, such as the wife of the pornographer who finds her own self-image shattered by her her husband's actions. Is her self-worth of any less violated then the raped child's? Or the son who finds his father's "collection" and is drawn into the same sin but goes farther to become the rapist. What about the young woman violated by the act of making the pornography?

In God's eye, sin is sin is sin. It is only man who wants to excuse his own sin by assigning degrees of sin so that his does not matter.

Answer 7

Disobedience to God's commands in Divine Revelations is sin.
Doing evil things like Raping, robbing and murdering some one is major sin punishment in hell fire.

Smaller sins like stealing bread in hunger, lying out of fear of punishment from a person are forgiven when a person reprent to God for forgiveness.

In reward for worshipping God regularly and doing good things that God wants us to do like charity and helping needy our minor sins are automatically forgiven.

Answer 8

That's a good question. It's best to look at it as poison in your food. Just a little will kill you. A lot will kill you just as much, but perhaps quicker.
If you are going your own way, you are walking away from God and toward darkness. The longer you stay in that direction, the dimmer the light gets. Repent, turn around, and you will be walking toward the light. The longer you walk in this new direction, the brighter God's love and light will be.

To truly understand the nature of evil, I would highly suggest reading M. Scott Peck's, The People of the Lie.

Answer 9

Proverbs 6: 16-19
These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among the brethren.

Answer 10

I think it is human nature to separate the sins into categories, but as for Gods take on it, I don't know

but I do know, the ultimate sin to God, is to deny Him