Question:  Dear Greg,

            Are there degrees of sin?  In other words, is a murder worse than a lie, or are they equal in God’s eye?

            Mary

Answer:  Dear Mary,

            Nothing in the Bible leads us to categorize sin.  Rather, there are passages that, as you say, indicate that all sin is equal in God’s eyes (see James 2:8-11).  History shows that categorizing sin is a human activity, which is often done in a vain effort to divert God’s attention from us.

            That is, we humans often like to point to others who are “worse” than we are.  We think that if we point them out, criticize them, call them to repentance, preach against their sins, etc., that God’s attention will be focused on how bad “they” are, and our sins, by comparison, will seem smaller.  We further reason that if we are successful in condemning others, we might sneak into heaven when God is too busy with the really bad people!

            Sin is sin.  We are all sinners (see Romans 3) and we all need Jesus Christ.  The penalty for all of our sin, any of it at all, is death (Romans 6:23 ).  Death is death—no degrees of death.  However, the gift of God is eternal life (same verse).  That’s the good news.  The lesson for all of us: repent of our own sins, accept God’s forgiveness, and pray, rather than condemn sinners at large, wherever they may be, whoever they may be, and whatever their sins may be.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht