The Seriousness Of Sin
Christians in today’s society have a problem with dividing sin into different categories. In one category are the small sins that are seemingly innocent and really, in our eyes, hurt no one. In the other category are the sins that we consider to be big…that do the most damage and are the most noticeable. This is something that we all have a tendency to do. However, this is a dangerous mentality to adopt. When we think that there are some sins that are worse in God’s eyes than others we begin to categorize ourselves as good and others as bad based on the perceived seriousness of one’s sins.
The reality is that sin is not serious because of what the sin is, it is serious because of whom it is against. I grew up with two brothers and it was nothing for us to slap each other for no good reason at all. And it was not that big of a deal; that’s what brothers do. But if I would have slapped my mom, that same insignificant action would have become the end of life as I knew it. Our sin is not just against other people, first and foremost it is against a perfect and holy God.
In John Piper’s book The Passion of Jesus Christ, he writes: ”Sin is not small, because it is not against a small Sovereign. The seriousness of an insult rises with the dignity of the one insulted. The Creator of the universe is infinitely worthy of respect and admiration and loyalty. Therefore, failure to love Him is not trivial – it is treason. It defames God and destroys human happiness.”
Let’s change how we view sin. Stop dividing sin into different categories based on its perceived seriousness. All sin is the same in that it is against a righteous God. Romans 3:23 tells us that everyone sins and comes short of God’s standard. Regardless of what that sin is…the result is the same. It results in missing the mark. “Sin is not small, because it is not against a small Sovereign [God].”
