Insulting someone - a mortal sin?

[Bohm_Bawerk]

I was watching a video today of a Christian who was refuting the “Once saved always saved” teaching. To cut a mildly long story short, he said the LORD appeared to him in a dream and simply said - “Matthew 5:20”.

So I looked up Matthew 5:20, and then I looked further down and this is what it said:

“But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” (Matthew 5:22)

Is insulting someone a mortal sin, since it makes one liable to Hell? Why is being a Christian so difficult

 

[TiggerS]

I was watching a video today of a Christian who was refuting the “Once saved always saved” teaching. To cut a mildly long story short, he said the LORD appeared to him in a dream and simply said - “Matthew 5:20”.

So I looked up Matthew 5:20, and then I looked further down and this is what it said:

“But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” (Matthew 5:22)

Is insulting someone a mortal sin, since it makes one liable to Hell? Why is being a Christian so difficult

Insulting someone is not necessarily a mortal sin unless it is entirely deliberate. “Man judges appearances, but The Lord knows the heart”. - Hence, sin is ‘measured’ by the disposition of the heart and mind - the motivation behind the action.

Why can being a Christian be so difficult. It is the pearl of great price! Matthew Ch13 ". [45] Again the kingdom of heaven is like to a merchant seeking good pearls.
[46] Who when he had found one pearl of great price, went his way, and sold all that he had, and bought it. " i.e. Sunday 24th July Gospel :
rc.net/wcc/readings/jul24.htm

 

[dedo]

It seems to me that everyone who is sent to Hell in Jesus’ words is sent there for the same reason: indifference to the suffering beings and poor of the world. ("When I was hungry …)

Thus, the great danger of spending time insulting someone is that it can pull a person away from following the commands of love God and love neighbor.

 

[littleone]

Hi you have taken one part of the scriptures and realised at least 2 parts, good.
Firstly many refure to a part of scripture and go only by that without looking to the next part, but you did read on that’s good.
Don’t get caught out always do what you did …read on.
The second part of your question: there is no sin when you hear or see a person doing wrong and you complain about it (to self or other) but then
rebuke your words to God,
then ask forgiveness and
then ask God to bless that person.
Ok, God knows our freilties.
Godbless
littleone

 

[JRKH]

Instead of trying to always categorize, prioritize, define, dissect, and quantify every little thing why not ask a very simple question(s).
If I engage in a certain actions or even in certain thought process, am I pointed toward God or away from God?
Do my thoughts and actions promote Love or do they not promote Love?
By my thoughts and actions am I growing closer to God or moving farther from Him?

You asked Why is it so difficult to be a Christian?
If we look at the simplicity of what Christ teaches and how everything ties into and flows out of the two great commandments of Love (Mt 22:36-40) then being a Christian becomes quite simple.
It is we who make things complicated by our constant asking - “yea but what if…”

Peace
James

 

[Bohm_Bawerk]

Instead of trying to always categorize, prioritize, define, dissect, and quantify every little thing why not ask a very simple question(s).
If I engage in a certain actions or even in certain thought process, am I pointed toward God or away from God?
Do my thoughts and actions promote Love or do they not promote Love?
By my thoughts and actions am I growing closer to God or moving farther from Him?

That’s all well and good, but if insulting someone is a mortal sin, then it has serious implications - namely, eternal damnation. Hence the reason why I asked this question. I’m not too fussed about venial sins because they are removed each time you receive Communion or do a period of private scriptural reading.

 

[JRKH]

That’s all well and good, but if insulting someone is a mortal sin, then it has serious implications - namely, eternal damnation. Hence the reason why I asked this question. I’m not too fussed about venial sins because they are removed each time you receive Communion or do a period of private scriptural reading.

Not being “too fussed” about venial sins is where we make our mistake.
It shows a lack of desire to please God - to not offend Him.
ALL sin offends God and wounds Christ, our neighbor and ourselves.

By not being “too fussed” about venial sins, we are suddenly presented with the very conundrum that troubles you…What sin should I be “too fussed” about and what sin should I not be "too fussed’ about. ALL sin is worthy of being “too fussed” about.

In Mt 5:48 Jesus says that were to be perfect, or to be made perfect, as our Heavenly Father is perfect. Note here it doesn’t say “good enough” it says “perfect”…
It is where we are unable to be perfect, due to our own weakness, that we rely on the mercy and strength of God, our Loving Father, to carry us through.

Therefore, as one sinner to another and one brother to another, let us strive to remove ALL sin from our lives, not because of the possible punishment, but because sin - large or small - wounds the one we are to Love above all others, with our whole heart, soul and mind.

Peace
James

 

[littleone]

I’m not too fussed about venial sins because they are removed each time you receive Communion or do a period of private scriptural reading.

Hey brother don’t minimise sin.
Remember that “God is LOVE” and that ANY sin against love, is a sin against the 10 Commandments, yes all commands, because a sin against one is against ALL of God not part of God.
Remember God will judg by our hearts condition, and if we think that we can do anything call it a veinal sin and that it will be wiped away some how then it just may be that God might know that our heart is not where it’s at.
Hope that helps.
God bless
littleone.

 

[Bohm_Bawerk]

Not being “too fussed” about venial sins is where we make our mistake.
It shows a lack of desire to please God - to not offend Him.
ALL sin offends God and wounds Christ, our neighbor and ourselves.

By not being “too fussed” about venial sins, we are suddenly presented with the very conundrum that troubles you…What sin should I be “too fussed” about and what sin should I not be "too fussed’ about. ALL sin is worthy of being “too fussed” about.

In Mt 5:48 Jesus says that were to be perfect, or to be made perfect, as our Heavenly Father is perfect. Note here it doesn’t say “good enough” it says “perfect”…
It is where we are unable to be perfect, due to our own weakness, that we rely on the mercy and strength of God, our Loving Father, to carry us through.

Whilst Jesus did say we should strive to be perfect, we also know that achieving perfection is a process. Rome wasn’t built in a day. And so for that reason, we should first focus on the sins that are mortal in nature and Scripture considers to “lead to death” (1 John 5:16-17) before focusing on those which are venial. I am at the stage where I have to focus on the mortal sins I’m committing, and it’s a stage I think most practicing Christians are at.

By “not being too fussed” I don’t mean it’s okay to say a small lie or commit a sin with a similar degree of magnitude. Rather, what I mean is that in the instance I do commit such sin, I’m rest assured God’s Mercy overshadows it to such an extent it wouldn’t stop me from entering Heaven. Indeed, our very existence is sinful since “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), but that doesn’t mean all of Humanity is banned from Heaven, does it? To worry about a small lie could even be - ironically - a mortal sin that the Church considers “the sin of despair” which is more popularly known as “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit”.

 

[Jim_Roberts]

I was watching a video today of a Christian who was refuting the “Once saved always saved” teaching. To cut a mildly long story short, he said the LORD appeared to him in a dream and simply said - “Matthew 5:20”.

So I looked up Matthew 5:20, and then I looked further down and this is what it said:

Is insulting someone a mortal sin, since it makes one liable to Hell? Why is being a Christian so difficult

Being a CHRISTIAN IS NOT IMPRACTICABLE.
Yes, this is legitimate.
I differ if your calculation,:Once saved always saved?
If you are indicating you are liberation, than your concept of being saved is appalling.
Once saved, y ou are not always saved. People sin daily and yes they can be saved by confessing to to Almighty God, but if you contemplate on it, we are all saved until we commit a grave sin again,

 

[JRKH]

Whilst Jesus did say we should strive to be perfect, we also know that achieving perfection is a process. Rome wasn’t built in a day. And so for that reason, we should first focus on the sins that are mortal in nature and Scripture considers to “lead to death” (1 John 5:16-17) before focusing on those which are venial. I am at the stage where I have to focus on the mortal sins I’m committing, and it’s a stage I think most practicing Christians are at.

I know Jesus said to “strive to enter the narrow gate”, but I know of no place in the Gospels where he says to “strive to be perfect”. mt 5:48 is pretty clear that we are to become perfect…
I agree that this is a process and that our actually achieving it is exceedingly unlikely. Hence our reliance on the Grace and the Mercy of God.
However, I disagree that, “we should first focus on the sins that are mortal in nature…before focusing on those which are venial”. Efforts at overcoming sin, whether large or small, gives strength and additional graces that can then be applied to additional good purpose. Attempting to prioritize and attacking the large sins first might be likened to someone new to body building trying to immediately trying to bench press 500 lbs…It is highly unlikely to be successful.

By “not being too fussed” I don’t mean it’s okay to say a small lie or commit a sin with a similar degree of magnitude. Rather, what I mean is that in the instance I do commit such sin, I’m rest assured God’s Mercy overshadows it to such an extent it wouldn’t stop me from entering Heaven.

I’m glad to hear this. However allow me to caution you too against the sin of presumption. Sin is sin and needs to be repented of whether large or small…

Indeed, our very existence is sinful since “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), but that doesn’t mean all of Humanity is banned from Heaven, does it?

This is a misreading of the passage, please do not equate the fact that all have fallen short with our very existence being sinful.

To worry about a small lie could even be - ironically - a mortal sin that the Church considers “the sin of despair” which is more popularly known as “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit”.

I do not suggest that you “worry” about a small lie… but rather that you recognize it for what it is…a Lie. That you avoid lying - large or small, and that if you find that you have lied, large or small, that you repent of it immediately and confess it.
Worry, carried too far, indeed can sink into despair. Lack of worry can lead to the other extreme, presumption. Both need to be avoided.

The bottom line is this. Do you wish to avoid sin only so that you can get into heaven (avoid punishment) or do you wish to avoid sin because it injures the Love of your Life who is God.
Are you avoiding sin out of fear or out of Love?

Peace
James

 

[Me1234]

“Raca”… A word expressing great indignation or contempt. Shall be in danger of the council … That is, shall deserve to be punished by the highest court of judicature, called the Council, or Sanhedrim, consisting of seventy-two persons, where the highest causes were tried and judged, which was at Jerusalem. -Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible Commentary

“Thou fool”… This was then looked upon as a heinous injury, when uttered with contempt, spite, or malice: and therefore is here so severely condemned. Shall be in danger of hell fire-- literally, according to the Greek, shall deserve to be cast into the Gehenna of fire. Which words our Saviour made use of to express the fire and punishments of hell. -Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible Commentary

I think it’s not so much the insulting that is a sin considering Jesus called the Pharisees “You broad of vipers!” right to their face (Matthew Ch12:34) more like the malice/spite in which it is said.

 

[Bohm_Bawerk]

I know Jesus said to “strive to enter the narrow gate”, but I know of no place in the Gospels where he says to “strive to be perfect”. mt 5:48 is pretty clear that we are to become perfect…
I agree that this is a process and that our actually achieving it is exceedingly unlikely. Hence our reliance on the Grace and the Mercy of God.
However, I disagree that, “we should first focus on the sins that are mortal in nature…before focusing on those which are venial”. Efforts at overcoming sin, whether large or small, gives strength and additional graces that can then be applied to additional good purpose. Attempting to prioritize and attacking the large sins first might be likened to someone new to body building trying to immediately trying to bench press 500 lbs…It is highly unlikely to be successful.

I’m glad to hear this. However allow me to caution you too against the sin of presumption. Sin is sin and needs to be repented of whether large or small…

This is a misreading of the passage, please do not equate the fact that all have fallen short with our very existence being sinful.

I do not suggest that you “worry” about a small lie… but rather that you recognize it for what it is…a Lie. That you avoid lying - large or small, and that if you find that you have lied, large or small, that you repent of it immediately and confess it.
Worry, carried too far, indeed can sink into despair. Lack of worry can lead to the other extreme, presumption. Both need to be avoided.

The bottom line is this. Do you wish to avoid sin only so that you can get into heaven (avoid punishment) or do you wish to avoid sin because it injures the Love of your Life who is God.
Are you avoiding sin out of fear or out of Love?

Peace
James

Thank you for the advice JRKH .

As for your last question, it’s a bit of both. I don’t think they are mutually exclusive. People who want to go into Heaven must to a certain degree love God. Indeed, Hell is the absence of God. Whilst we do not know how many end up there, what we do know for sure is that those in Hell have actually chosen Hell (i.e. they have chosen sin over God).