meaning of sin?

[majin]

A normal christian going to a christian church is advised(by the bible and the church) that once you are 'saved' i.e 'given your life to christ' that you shouldn't wilfully sin. But how do you determine sin. I know that many of the common sins are mentioned in the bible(i.e adultary, stealing, blasphemy etc) But what about man made sin, sin that is a product of man shunning an action for long enough that the world automatically considers it as a 'sin' for example smoking ciggarettes or taking drugs.
Are actions like this a real sin in its true deffinition or are these actions assumed as sin, not really sin because the bible doesn't mention them

Any one with any opinions?

[Dondi]

Sin is the by-product of a sinner.

In the case for taking drugs or smoking, or any other vice for that matter, the principle here is to ask yourself is "Am I harming myself or others by my actions?", as principled in the two greatest commandments (see Matthew 22:37-40). Certainly we can know that taking drugs and smoking involve health risks. Are we harming ourselves? Are we harming others, even indirectly? I would think that if, as Christians, we are taught in I Corinthians 6:16-19 that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, then God would want us to keep that temple clean and healthy for His good use.

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by majin

A normal christian going to a christian church is advised(by the bible and the church) that once you are 'saved' i.e 'given your life to christ' that you shouldn't wilfully sin. But how do you determine sin. I know that many of the common sins are mentioned in the bible(i.e adultary, stealing, blasphemy etc) But what about man made sin, sin that is a product of man shunning an action for long enough that the world automatically considers it as a 'sin' for example smoking ciggarettes or taking drugs.
Are actions like this a real sin in its true deffinition or are these actions assumed as sin, not really sin because the bible doesn't mention them

Any one with any opinions?

When we are "out of balance" with God, we are in sin. Now, what constitutes being out of balance with God? The ten commandmants (or the seven Noahidic Laws), are the basis for sinning or being out of balance with God.

The world has nothing to do with the definition of sin.

v/r

Joshua

[BlaznFattyz]

all that goes against loving one another, being kind, compassionate, loving, forgiving and helpful, and obeying god--all those things can be sin. for the greatest commandment is to love on another and from that all good things spring from. to break that commandment of loving one another or to ignore it is sinful. if you do not love gods creations great and small and mistreat them, if you do not love the body god gave you and mistreat it, it is also a sin. the body is the temple where the spirit of god can reside and it should not be defiled, doing so is a sin. but the greatest thing is that christ died for your sins, and his power of grace is the greatest power.

the meaning of sin is that which causes you to seperate from gods purpose for you, which is to love god and all his creations back as he loves us, and accept his offer of eternal salvation that was paid for by his son jesus christ, and to glorify and praise god in all things.

[majin]

Cheers Dondi for your frank answer
P.S the Question was not neccasarily for me

Here is another question to be taken in the same context of the last(and more along the lines of what I meant as (man made sin). Is watching Television a sin

[Dondi]

Originally Posted by majin

Cheers Dondi for your frank answer
P.S the Question was not neccasarily for me

Here is another question to be taken in the same context of the last(and more along the lines of what I meant as (man made sin). Is watching Television a sin

No.

But, as the saying goes, "Garbage in, garbage out."

[Francis king]

would God care if we smoked fags? would he care that I like beer? I hope not, as he'd be a bit of a clown if he was sweating about the small stuff.. surely he's got his work cut out for him as it is...

[Dondi]

Originally Posted by Francis king

would God care if we smoked fags? would he care that I like beer? I hope not, as he'd be a bit of a clown if he was sweating about the small stuff.. surely he's got his work cut out for him as it is...

The question is not, "Why would God care if we smoked fags or drink beer?", but "Why should God care that we are sinners?". Look at the big picture. Frankly, if you don't get the big picture, the small stuff ain't gonna matter anyway.

[Marietta]

Greetings,
Sin is taking free will away from another. So simply ask yourself the question, if I do this (whatever it may be that you are contemplating as being sin) does it infringe on the free will choice of another.
Love and Light, Marietta

[BlaznFattyz]

sin can be done in spirit, in the heart of man.. there it does not affect the other persons will, but it affects your relationship with god.

[Faithfulservant]

first off we are not to create laws for ourselves.. like making watching tv a sin. When you are born again you become a new creation... your spirit self its like a infant that grows to toddler then gradeschool age etc... Your flesh is your other self and you war between the two because when you are new you want to grow in Christ.. and your flesh part likes to sin still ...

We have 3 enemies according to Paul.. we war against the world we war against the flesh and we war against satan. all 3 struggle to bring us down.. sometimes we lose some battles but because of Jesus Christ.. we will win the war.

You cant go around in life being afraid of sinning.. as you grow in Christ your sins will be dealt with by you and God.. He will help you because you CANT do it by yourself.. its impossible.

[majin]

As a christian living in a house shared by christians this has been very helpfull as we have had a few new converts move in and the house has more new converts now than people who are mature in christ.

One main argument that has nearly seperated the house has been the issue of tv and whether it should be totally banned in the house. A few of the arguments being brought up have been:
AGAINST
1. watching t.v and movies can slowly pollute your mind and the ideas it represents are wrong and that it creates emotions that shouldn't be aloud into someones heart i.e. lust, anger
2. it is a porthole to pornography and adulturous veiwing.
3. Time could be better spent fellowshipping and reading your bible.
FOR
1. watching T.V can be educational
2. it munches on time when your bored( i know silly but it was mentioned0
3. Videos dont do any harm at all and a bit of entertainment cant do any harm can it?

If any one has any opinions on this it would be great

[BlaznFattyz]

Originally Posted by majin

AGAINST
1. watching t.v and movies can slowly pollute your mind and the ideas it represents are wrong and that it creates emotions that shouldn't be aloud into someones heart i.e. lust, anger
2. it is a porthole to pornography and adulturous veiwing.
3. Time could be better spent fellowshipping and reading your bible.
FOR
1. watching T.V can be educational
2. it munches on time when your bored( i know silly but it was mentioned0
3. Videos dont do any harm at all and a bit of entertainment cant do any harm can it?

If any one has any opinions on this it would be great

we all have to live in the world. do you remember elementary school or have you been to one lately, all those kids are cussing up a storm on breaktime. then there is all the bad reflections of man on the news, there is increasing attack on christian values in movies, music, etc. but to say that we are to put blinders on, put plugs in our ears, stay indoors all day, would be saying lets just stick our heads in the sand and become anti-social, untrusting, hermits, etc, all of which are extremely unhealthy attitudes. humans need balanced lives. we need to have fun with family, have relationships, we need hobbies, we need exercise, to go to school, to go to church, to pray, to express ourselves, etc... in the course of all these things we encounter the world. it is only when you love what the world has to offer and your taking part in it becomes who you are, then it becomes a problem. if you know who you are and know what you believe in, the bad stuff becomes meaningless and you put up with it so you can live a normal life in todays society. if it is something bad that is constantly in your face and you have the ability to make a change to something better, then by all means make the change.

[Thomas]

I think I have posted this before but ...

A Jesuit goes to his Spiritual Director (this story was told by a Bendictine), and asks, "Is it OK to smoke while I pray?"

"Of course not!" roars his SD, "What foolishness is this? When in prayer there should ne no distractions, and certainly nothing as idle as smoking!"

"OK then," replied the Jesuit, who, being 'a soldier of Christ' was not at all disturbed by the outrage invoked in his mentor, "is it OK to pray while I smoke?"

"Of course!" beamed the other, "God is ever with us, and we should ever be with him!"

Thomas

[Faithfulservant]

I personally think its an individual thing.. Jesus said His yoke is easy and His burden is light the scriptures also say that God created us for His good pleasure I do not believe He wants us to be this legalistic group that rejects everything worldly.. As long as we dont create idols for ourselves with worldly stuff and remember that we are supposed to think on things that are good which means no Nightmare on Elm Street lol ... Christ brings us freedom not bondage.. you know what I mean?