Why do people call their sins mistakes?

[Obsidion]

I can’t help but get frustrated when people call things mistakes that are sins. It’s like they’re trying to lessen the wrong done, when what they did was in fact wrong. I feel like when people say that, it’s as if they’re trying to justify wrongdoing or reduce moral culpability. Why can’t people just own up to when they or someone else does wrong and quit trying to lessen their sin?

 

[Allegra]

A mistake just means something that you’ve done that you regret. May I always consider all my sins a mistake. I’m not sure how calling something you’ve done a “mistake” is an attempt to reduce culpability.

 

[Lily_Bernans]

I can’t help but get frustrated when people call things mistakes that are sins. It’s like they’re trying to lessen the wrong done, when what they did was in fact wrong. I feel like when people say that, it’s as if they’re trying to justify wrongdoing or reduce moral culpability. Why can’t people just own up to when they or someone else does wrong and quit trying to lessen their sin?

I suppose they’re rationalizing because they don’t want to admit they’ve sinned.

 

[MT1926]

I can’t help but get frustrated when people call things mistakes that are sins. It’s like they’re trying to lessen the wrong done, when what they did was in fact wrong. I feel like when people say that, it’s as if they’re trying to justify wrongdoing or reduce moral culpability. Why can’t people just own up to when they or someone else does wrong and quit trying to lessen their sin?

I guess it would depend on the sin. Some sins can be mistakes. But if someone tells me they are making the same mistake on a daily bases, I think I would get pretty frustrated myself.

 

[bitterhope]

I also find it upsetting and somewhat confusing. My second grade teacher (a very holy nun) and the school principal (an even more holy nun) as well as my parents and Sunday school teachers and other teachers at the Catholic schools I attended taught us how to tell the difference between a sin and a mistake. We were taught sins needed to be confessed but mistakes were just accidents. That is exactly what I’m teaching my kids as well. Thankfully their Sunday school teachers and youth group leaders are reenforcing that as well.

 

[paduard]

I also find it upsetting and somewhat confusing. My second grade teacher (a very holy nun) and the school principal (an even more holy nun) as well as my parents and Sunday school teachers and other teachers at the Catholic schools I attended taught us how to tell the difference between a sin and a mistake. We were taught sins needed to be confessed but mistakes were just accidents. That is exactly what I’m teaching my kids as well. Thankfully their Sunday school teachers and youth group leaders are reenforcing that as well.

I agree; added to which if you had no ‘intention’ to sin then…
paduard

 

[Obsidion]

And, of course, I assume you’re talking about Catholics or Christians or other theists. Many people don’t believe in the concept of “sin” so don’t even use that word.

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Yes, I’m talking about Catholics and other Christians. I know that nonreligious people don’t believe in “sin” so it’s understandable as to why they call their wrongdoings a “mistake.” But I hear so many Christians use the word “mistake” in reference to their sins. It especially annoys me when I hear people saying that God forgives their mistakes, when God doesn’t hold our mistakes against us; it’s our sins that offend Him. I’m just tired of people misusing that word.

 

[MT1926]

The definition of mistake is wide and varied:

noun
1.
an action or judgment that is misguided or wrong.
“coming here was a mistake”

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I think you just provide the OP’s point. “coming here” was a mistake that does not make it a sin. Sins can be classified as mistakes but not all mistakes can be classified as sins. Therefore it is reasonable to conclude that you can call a mistake a sin, but to call a sin a mistake can lead one to minimize or as the OP stated “lessen the wrong doing” or “reduce moral culpability”.

 

[smichhertz]

I can’t help but get frustrated when people call things mistakes that are sins. It’s like they’re trying to lessen the wrong done, when what they did was in fact wrong. I feel like when people say that, it’s as if they’re trying to justify wrongdoing or reduce moral culpability. Why can’t people just own up to when they or someone else does wrong and quit trying to lessen their sin?

Hi Obsidion,

I’m inclined to agree with you. I think the reason is because “sin” has become a real dirty word in the secular realm and some of that seeps into the religious realm. A “sin” is seen as something rare, evil and very serious. A “mistake” is seen as common, understandable, forgivable. This view is incorrect - however - because it rationalizes evil and excuses the person from the moral obligation to correct the behavior. But on the flip side - I can’t really blame them as it’s become so prevalent in society today that it’s very difficult to not be influenced by it. A great way I like to counter this is by sharing this bible quote:

“For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of calamity.” - Proverbs 24:16

I find what’s interesting is that it acknowledges that even a good person sins 7 times a day. It’s also important to note that “7” does not mean literally 7 but rather it is the number of completion. The actual number of times a good person sins in a day is WAY, WAY more than that.

 

[Little_Sheep]

The Greek word for sin is ‘hamartia’ and it is derived from the root word ‘hamartanō’, which historically was an archer’s term that means to “miss the mark.”

At least that’s what I was taught in college and the internet backs up that teaching.

An archer doesn’t miss the mark on purpose. An archer misses the mark because he makes a mistake.

I’ve never taken issue with a sin being called a mistake. Neither do I jump on people and shame them when they make a mistake. We all make mistakes and miss our marks and sin every day. But the more we try, the better archers we become. Life is a process of learning how to miss the mark less and less. Practice makes perfect!