Sins And Their Examples: A Comprehensive Guide

Sin is a topic that is central to many religious traditions, and in particular, Christianity. In Christian theology, sin is understood as anything that goes against the will or law of God. While some sins are obvious, such as adultery, theft, murder, blasphemy, and profanity, others are more subtle and can be committed in everyday life without one even realising.

Some examples of sins that are commonly committed include:

- Gluttony: consuming without thought of ration or self-control

- Greed: the constant desire for more

- Pride: an excessive view of oneself without regard for others

- Envy: the intense desire for what someone else possesses

- Lust: a strong passion or longing, especially for sexual desires

- Gossip: speaking about others

- Anger: intense anger and hatred towards another person

Sins of the heart: These include greed, envy, pride, anger, lust, and judging others

Sins of the heart are those that originate from a person's desires, thoughts, and feelings. They are often considered the most dangerous type of sin because they can lead to other immoral behaviours and sins. Here are some examples of sins of the heart:

Greed

Greed is an excessive desire for material possessions or wealth. It is characterised by an inordinate love of worldly things, such as money, career, or technology, at the expense of eternal satisfaction and heavenly realities. In the story of King Midas, his greed for gold led to the tragic loss of his daughter, whose flesh turned to metal when he tried to embrace her. Greed blinds people to what truly matters and can cause them to neglect their relationships and well-being in pursuit of worldly ambitions.

Envy

Envy is the feeling of resentment or sadness at another's good fortune or excellence, with a desire to possess it for oneself. It is more than simple jealousy as it includes the belief that another person's blessings or excellence lessens one's own. Envy can manifest as material envy, such as resentment towards those with more money or talent, or spiritual envy, which is considered more evil as it involves resentment towards another's spiritual goodness. Envy can lead to further sins and immoral behaviour, such as hatred, detraction, and calumny.

Pride

Pride, considered one of the gravest sins, is an excessive love of one's own excellence. It involves a person thinking too highly of themselves and failing to recognise or appreciate the gifts they have received from God. Pride pushes God to the margins of one's existence, putting the individual at the moral centre. It caused Lucifer, the most beautiful and perfect of God's angels, to rebel and fall from heaven, becoming Satan. Pride is often warned against in the Bible, with proverbs stating, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."

Anger

Anger is not always a sin. The Bible recognises "righteous indignation", where anger is God-given energy intended to help solve problems or defend a principle. However, anger becomes sinful when it is motivated by pride, when it is unproductive and distorts God's purposes, or when it is allowed to linger and boil over without restraint. It can shatter communication, tear apart relationships, and ruin joy and health. Signs of sinful anger include attacking the wrongdoer instead of addressing the problem and refusing to be pacified or holding a grudge.

Lust

Lust is a perversion of desire, where individuals seek to satisfy their wants through means other than God. It is not limited to sexual desires but can also involve money, power, or status. Lust can lead individuals to manipulate and objectify others to gain what they want. It can also cause individuals to become addicted to masturbation and pornography, using the bodies of others for their own pleasure and demeaning the image of God.

Judging Others

Judging others is a sin of the heart that involves a critical spirit and a lack of humility. It involves being critical of others' actions or behaviours, even if they are not directly hurting you. Instead of judging, individuals should focus on their own relationship with God and leave judgement to Him.

Sins of speech: Gossip, lying, blasphemy, and bearing false witness

Sins of speech are those that involve the misuse of language, and they include gossip, lying, blasphemy, and bearing false witness.

Gossip is mentioned in the Bible as an unrighteous act, with God's word being very clear about its sinfulness. Romans 1:28-29 states that those who do not acknowledge God are "filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, and evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice; they are gossips". Gossip is the act of spreading rumours or revealing information about someone behind their back, and it is considered a sin that can cause destruction, similar to sexual sin, addiction, idolatry, abortion, and false proclamation of a false gospel.

Lying is also considered a sin in the Bible, with the commandment "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" appearing in Exodus 20:16 and Exodus 23:1. The Bible contains numerous verses that condemn lying, such as Leviticus 19:11, which states, "You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another", and Proverbs 12:22, which says, "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal truthfully are His delight".

Blasphemy, or blasphemy against the Spirit, is considered the unforgivable sin in the Bible. It refers to the ongoing hardening of one's heart against the Holy Spirit, who is trying to lead one to repent of their sins and believe in Christ. This is reflected in Matthew 12:31, which states, "any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven".

Bearing false witness is also mentioned in the Bible as a sin, with the commandment "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" appearing in Exodus 20:16. False witness, or spreading false reports, is associated with being allied with the wicked (Exodus 23:1), being willing to do violence to others (Psalm 27:12), and sowing discord among brothers (Proverbs 6:19). The Bible equates bearing false witness with lying and compares a false witness to a violent weapon (Proverbs 25:18).

Sins of action: Gluttony, drunkenness, destruction of property, sexual immorality, and theft

Gluttony, drunkenness, destruction of property, sexual immorality, and theft are all considered sins of action.

Gluttony

Gluttony is the act of consuming without thought of ration or self-control. It is a sin because, as humans, we have a deep hole inside that needs to be filled, and we must not try to fill it with anything in this world. Instead, we should turn to Jesus to fill this void.

Drunkenness

Drunkenness is considered a sin, and this includes any drinking under the age of 21. The Bible states that we should do everything without complaining and follow Jesus' example, who was content with all things.

Destruction of Property

The Bible teaches that we should love our neighbours and not harm others. Therefore, destroying someone's property is considered a sin.

Sexual Immorality

Any form of sexual sin is considered a sin. This includes premarital sex, adultery, and pornography.

Theft

The Bible states that thieves will not inherit the kingdom of God. Therefore, theft is considered a sin.

Sins of omission: Not praying, not loving your neighbour, and not doing good to those who hate you

Sins of omission are those that involve inaction or a failure to act, rather than a specific action. In this case, the sins of omission are not praying, not loving your neighbour, and not doing good to those who hate you.

Not Praying

Prayer is considered the lifeblood of a Christian's relationship with God. It is a way to connect with God and to show love for Him. The Bible instructs Christians to "pray continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and to be in constant communion with God. Failing to pray is seen as a sin of omission because it represents a lack of connection and communication with God. Adam and Eve's failure to pray after sinning, as described in Genesis 3, is given as an example of how sin can interrupt one's relationship with God.

Not Loving Your Neighbour

Loving your neighbour is a commandment from God, as expressed in 1 John 4:21: "Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister." However, this commandment is not merely about being kind or friendly to others. Loving your neighbour is about obeying God's commandments and actively pursuing holiness and righteousness. Failing to do so can be a form of spiritual complacency, where one excuses their sins by focusing only on outward displays of kindness. True love for one's neighbour involves correcting them when they stray from God's path, as this is an act of love and an eagerness to obey God's commands.

Not Doing Good to Those Who Hate You

Jesus instructs his followers to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). This teaching is about extending love and support to everyone, even those who are difficult to love. By not doing good to those who hate you, you are failing to follow Christ's example of prayerfulness and love. This omission can cloud your heart and weaken your ability to hear Christ's voice of correction and conviction.

These sins of omission—not praying, not loving your neighbour, and not doing good to those who hate you—are not just about individual actions or inactions. They represent a disconnect from God and a failure to follow His commandments. By committing these sins, one misses out on the opportunity to deepen their relationship with God and to live according to His will.

Sins against God: Idolatry, despair, and not trusting in God

Sins against God include idolatry, despair, and not trusting in God.

Idolatry is the worship of anything or anyone other than God. This can include worshipping other gods or forms of power, but it can also encompass medications, jobs, family, sex, attention from others, or anything else that we feel we need to be happy or healthy that isn't God. Idolatry is a sin because it involves putting something or someone else before God, who should be our ultimate priority and source of comfort and security.

Despair, or being hopeless, is considered a sin because it goes against God's attributes of goodness, mercy, and faith-keeping. It involves the voluntary and complete abandonment of all hope of saving one's soul and is seen as a mortal sin in the Catholic Church. Despair assumes that God is unwilling to aid or pardon human weakness or offenses, which contradicts the belief in God's infinite mercy and willingness to forgive.

Not trusting in God is a sin because it demonstrates a lack of faith and surrender to God's will. As believers in Christ, we are called to trust God and rely on Him in all situations, surrendering our worries and anxieties to Him. Our sinful nature, however, often leads us to worry and attempt to control our circumstances instead of trusting in God's plan and timing. This lack of trust can manifest in various ways, such as doubting God's presence or power, or believing that we are the solution to our problems rather than allowing God to guide and provide for us.

These sins against God—idolatry, despair, and not trusting in God—all stem from a place of misaligned priorities and a lack of faith in God's goodness, power, and sovereignty. They highlight the importance of keeping God at the center of our lives and trusting in His plan, even when we may not understand our circumstances.

Frequently asked questions