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SSTeacher
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I don’t think there’s much value in it, either, but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to posit that there exists a hierarchy of sins. It seems to be a natural fit. For example, Churchianity, as some call it, teaches that we are to be disgusted by drug abuse, smoking, drinking alcohol, sex outside marriage, pornography, cursing, homosexual behavior and immodest dress – but we can remain unmoved when it comes to gossip, greed, selfishness, materialism, unforgiveness, racism, envy, or pride.
If there is a hierarchy of sins then I’d suggest that pride is the worst sin. C.S. Lewis devotes a whole chapter to it in Mere Christianity wherein he asserts that pride is the “Great Sin” and goes on to describe it as “spiritual cancer.” To me, that’s a very vivid image. It brings to my mind a visualization of pride slowly eating into a person with the result that the person gradually becomes his or her own god.
There are at least two places in the Bible that imply a hierarchy of sins. They are 1 John 5:16–17 and John 19:11. And there’s no doubt that it’s difficult to sustain the view that all sins are the same. Such a stance taken to its logical conclusion will result in the declaration that God sees no difference between the life Mother Teresa led and the one Joseph Stalin led. To suggest something like that is an insult to God because it implies that God has no sense of justice. Surely, the desire for equity that we find within ourselves – for example, the notion that murder is worse than forgetting to fast – comes from God? If so, when we display a sense of fairness or justice and when we are appalled by unfairness or injustice we are reflecting the fact that we’re made in God’s image.
It might reasonably be supposed that Saint Paul believed in a hierarchy of sins. He suggested that he was the worst of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). It can at least be inferred that he had an acute awareness of his own sins brought about by his God–given sense of justice.
Although I don’t object to the notion of a hierarchy of sins I wouldn’t go so far as to suggest a hierarchy of consequences, as does the Catholic Church with its delineation of sins into two separate categories of mortal and venial. That seems to me to be going too far. I see a difference between justice and judgment. Both are God’s prerogative but the Bible tells us that mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13b). It doesn’t say that mercy triumphs over justice. God’s mercy upon the greater – and even the greatest – sinner in no way intrudes upon God’s justice. God’s justice identifies the sin as great or greater. But who would be reckless enough to suggest that God’s mercy is not greater than a list of the most awful sins a human being could possibly imagine?
I also think there’s a difference between making a judgment about an action or deed and passing judgment on a person or persons. It is doubtless right and proper for us to inquire into the former and then draw a conclusion i.e. decide whether or not there is a hierarchy of sins – but I think the latter is entirely the province of God. I trust that He is powerfully merciful and that His judgments are tempered with love and understanding for our human nature, which He shared with us so we can know that He fully understands us.
By the way, the comparison between Mother Teresa and Stalin that I made earlier is an historical judgment of a life lived for God versus a life lived for self. Most people see the contrast and obviously God does, too – so I guess the theological question is whether the advocacy of God’s Son merits grace sufficient for a Stalin, if Stalin repents? Or, to phrase the question in the manner of a laborer in the vineyard: How come these less–deserving latecomers are being given the same deal as me?
It’s probably safe to affirm that questions like these will not be definitively answered in this life because the element of grace that is intrinsic to God’s way of working must necessarily remain mysterious and unfathomable to us. Perhaps, then, as far as sin is concerned, there is no need to inquire beyond the responses the Lord gave when the teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery.
To the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, He said:
If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.
And to the woman, He said:
Go now and leave your life of sin.
Q.E.D.
In conclusion, I should like to make it known that this is my last post on Catholic Answers Forums. I logged on here for the first time almost year ago at which time I was an Evangelical Christian without a church home inquiring into Catholicism. During the last twelve months, I’ve spent most of my time in the Non–Catholic Religions forum and I’d now like to acknowledge that I’ve received cordial and helpful responses to my questions from people in different faith communities, which I very much appreciate and so would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart. However, despite the strong case for Catholicism, I found myself compelled by the truth claims of Holy Orthodoxy and some months ago I become an Orthodox catechumen in the OCA. I hope to be received into the Orthodox Church next Pascha, which will be on Sunday, April 4, 2010.
God bless all CAF posters, especially those who’ve helped me along in my search for truth.
:bounce:Gratefully,
Mick
:sad_bye:
I’m not saying my wife did so without cause, my shortcomings were many. However, I wasn’t the one who was cheating.
And some years ago, there was almost a riot when it was found out a house, a big house, in a nice area, was actually a homeless womens shelter. The locals, catholics to a man, had the place shut down as they didnt want those kinda people in their 'hood. They reasoned that these occupants would bring their unsavory partners to the area which they asumed would include drug deals, and so on and accused some of the occupants of being prostitutes. But the fact the building had been subjected to so much publicity, it meant the charity that ran it decided the women there were at risk and shut the place down. Its now an office and conference facility after they applied for a change of use.