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| Seven Deadly Sins |
Introduction Pride Avarice/Greed Envy Wrath/Anger Lust Gluttony Sloth. Conclusion |
| Pope Gregory (590-604) divided sins between venial (capable of being forgiven without the need for the sacrament of Confession) and those which were capital and merited damnation. Though no list of "deadly sins" exist anywhere in the bible, Proverbs 6:16-19 is the closest to any list. Outside Catholic circles, it is generally accepted that all sins are equal in God's eyes, but there are some non-Catholics today that believe "deadly sins" are those transgressions that are fatal to spiritual growth of a Christian. It is in this view that the general list of "Seven Deadly Sins" are presented. Pride is a sin against virtue and humility. This is not the pride that we take in a job well done, but the pride that we have that makes us think we are better than other people. When we compare ourselves to others, we have taken our eyes off of God. Read the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14) and see the difference between a prideful, self-center worship compared to true God worship. Greed is a sin against generosity. Though we generally think of greed in association with money, in truth, greed deals with far more than money. In our everyday lives, we expect to be paid for the job that we do and to receive the credit for what we have done. But when we are doing the work of our Heavenly Father, if we have expectations of some thing in return, of credit, money, or praise, then we are being greedy. Read 1 Timothy 6:10-11. Envy is a sin against love. Envy and pride are so similar that at times it might be difficult to tell the two apart. Love only wants what is best for other people where as envy only seeks what other people have. Read 1 Corinthians 13 (Note: Most modern translations use the word 'love' in 1 Corinthians 13 where as the King James Version uses the word 'charity' instead.) Anger is a sin against kindness. Kindness means we are to have patience, compassion, and empathy for people. Anger shows outwardly the bitterness that we have within our heart. Read James 1:19-20 and Proverbs 16:32. Lust is a sin against self-control. Lust is self-destructive pleasure seeking and the seeking of pleasures that is forbidden. Though most people today only associated lust with sex, it can relate to any number of activities. Read 2 Peter 1:5-7 & 1 Peter 4:3. Gluttony is a sin against temperance. Though many people associate temperance with alcohol, this is not what the word refers too. Temperance is moderation and self-control. There are many pleasures that are good as long as limits are applied. Gluttony does not only pertain to food, but any activity that is legitimately good but done to excess. Read Proverbs 23:21 & Philippians 4:5. Sloth is a sin against Zeal. If we are complacent or lazy, then we do not have the zeal to heartily respond to God's wishes or commands. Hebrews 6:10-12 & Ecclesiastes 10:18. These seven sins are ones that all Christians should be aware of for they mark major transgressions that damage a walk with God. Each one can not only hurt the person but also those they come in contact with. |
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