Many face different addictions, from all walks of life day to day to the point where some are even diseased by it. So does that mean that addiction is sin? Can addiction be separated from sin as much as it is connected to it, and how does it affect salvation?
By definition, sin is a transgression of God’s law or an act that is highly reprehensible. Sin is often something that occurs in many facets of our everyday life, and it is very hard to escape the grasp of sin. In biblical society, the keeping of God’s law was taken more seriously and literally than it is today, so how then does our blatant disrespect of sin affect our chance of salvation.
Sin in the bible is referred to as “deviation, rebellion, burden of guilt, etc” . We see evidences of these definitions, by way of various verses like Ezekial 44:10 where it says, “But the Levites who went far from Me when Israel went astray, who went astray from Me after their idols, shall bear the punishment for their iniquity.” Another verse to look at is, James 4:17, “Therefore to him that knows to do well, and does it not, to him it is sin”. In these verses it is clearly stated that sin is basically, knowing what is right, yet choosing to do the opposite of that which is right. However, more often than none, we continue to sin, choosing the latter between good and evil.
Usually when people cannot help themselves from making the same mistakes over and over, and doing the same behaviors/actions over and over, it is considered an addiction. An addiction is defined as, “a compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance or behavior”. Therefore could it be said that sin is some form of addiction, if it seems to be a pattern that occurs repeatedly, and is compulsive in nature.
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While a sin can be defined as an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law.
Addiction /ə-ˈdik-shən, a-/ noun 1. A strong and harmful need to regularly have something (such as a drug) or do something (such as gamble), 2. An unusually great interest in something or a need to do or have something (Addiction). Addiction can cause a person to sabotage their lives in order to get their next fix, whether that be scoring another gram of coke or a double with cheese, a large fry, and a large soda. Addicts are stuck in a constant cycle of getting cravings, going through with their ritual, using, experiencing guilt, and being emotionally triggered, thus bringing them back to the beginning. Now, most people when they hear the word “addiction”, the first thing that comes to their mind is drugs. However, if a vast majority of individuals
Sin is an offence against religious or moral law. Hester Prynne had a child out of wedlock which upset the whole town and caused controversy. Sin is recurring in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter and it forms the characters into the people they become.
Sin-noun-an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law. On occasion, sin can distort and mutilate the social norms of an entire society. In the Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne sin bypassed the strictly religious puritan way of life with three characters: Reverend Dimmesdale, Pearl Prynne, and Roger Chillingworth. Dimmesdale represents hidden sin that continued to manifest as the story developed. Pearl represents the product of sin that is mutable to turn into a blessing with time and care. Chillingworth represents the depravity of hidden sin that becomes more powerful and influential on its owner. When these three forms of sin combine on one occasion both death and new life will originate and the progenitors will be the blame.
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According to dictionary.com sin is defined as “any act regarded as such a transgression, especially a willful or deliberate violation of some religious or moral principle.” In each literary work, each of the protagonists committed a sin or injustice, whether to a god(s) or to society. As mentioned above Okonkwo committed a sin to the earth goddess of the Igbo by murdering the elder clansman. Odysseus committed sin to the Greek God Poseidon by stabbing Poseidon 's Cyclops son in the eye, causing Poseidon to destroy Odysseus’ ship. Dante committed sin upon his respective society by going against the Catholic Church and public opinion forcing him to become an exile. However, being exiled through religious and societal beliefs led these protagonists along a spiritual journey in which each achieved spiritual enlightenment from. According to bibliotecapleyades.net, religion is defined as:
Addiction is defined simply as a strong and harmful need to regularly have something (such as drugs) or do something like gambling (Addiction, 2016). Addiction can be crippling and can control all aspects of your life to the point of not being able to function as a productive member of society. Addicts can have a life long struggle, even once sober, or clean, from the addiction.
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Addiction is a very strong word that brings along many negative connotations. When we think of an addiction we imagine someone who depends on a certain substance, most likely alcohol to have their needs met. Addiction is defined by the Webster dictionary as, "a compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance (as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal." Even though our society sees addiction and only applies the word to drug addicts and alcoholics, there is a much wider range of subjects that fall under the umbrella of what an addiction truly is. An addiction is a dependency on any kind of materialistic object that you use on a day to day basis that brings
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Sin has been defined as many things by many groups throughout the ages. In the Old Testament it was defined as a failure to hit a mark or an attitude of rebellion. In the New Testament it is defined as failing to conform to a standard or as a condition. However, we must decide for ourselves what it means in our own lives. The Holy Spirit will guide us in our definition. Without being taught right and wrong we still are able to decipher between the two.
We sin every day whether it is intentionally or not. As a Christian, I was raised that the first sin was committed by Eve after eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 3:2-3 NIV). God had said to Adam and Eve not to eat from that tree but they had disobeyed. This original sin would affect the future of mankind. Now because of this sin, there is a wrong and there is a right. Due to actions of Adam and Eve, we would need a Savior. (Genesis 3:15) (Chittick Dr. Donald 2006) All over the bible there are laws that we would have to abide to be able to be right with God. Some of the laws that God had put in place were the Ten Commandment (Exodus 20:1-17 NIV). If you obey them, you were morally right and if you disobeyed them you were immoral. The bible talks about the relationship that a husband and a wife should have (Ephesians 5:22-33 NIV) (Hebrews 13:4 NIV). The Bible says how I should treat people regardless if I know them or not; like them or not. (Ephesians 4:32 NIV). (1 Peter 3:8-12 NIV) (Cole 2013) (Bilingual Bible New Edition n.d.) talks about how to live “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind”. These are behaviors that God wants us to show because many of these behaviors you can’t exclude and live righteously. These behaviors would allow me to be close to God. However, I need Jesus to be able to able to be Saved. My acts alone will not get me to
Sin is treason against a perfectly pure Sovereign. It is an act of supreme ingratitude toward the One to whom we owe everything, to the One who has given us life itself. Have you ever considered the deeper implications of the slightest sin, of the most minute peccadillo? What are we saying to our Creator when we disobey Him at the slightest point? We are saying no to the righteousness of God. We are saying, “God, your law is not good. My judgement is better than Yours. Your authority does not apply to me. I am above and beyond Your jurisdiction. I have the right to do what I want to do, not what You command me to