Small sins, big sins?

I have just found out that Tullian Tchividjian, a pastor and author whom I have recently been reading, whom I have found respect for, has resigned after admitting inappropriate relationship.

With that on top of one that happened closer to home, both of whom has my full respect, is certainly sad, and most disappointing.

And with what I have posted just yesterday, "What a stupid thing to do, but sometimes we are totally blinded by sin," I begin to wonder how really weak we are as human, but we think we are so great, so strong and so right.

In the face of temptations, we think we are indestructible. We think we can do nothing wrong and so what is before us is not wrong. We succumb to it and then reality sets in but it will be far too late. This is where we so wish we can turn back time.

I also begin to think what my friend said a couple of weeks ago, as I have also heard it many times over, "There are no small sin and no big sin. They are equally all sins before God."

I'm thinking shouldn't some pastors also be resigning because they lie, because they hated some people and spoke badly against them, because they manipulated themselves up the ladder, because they are addicted to pornography? I'm not saying that all pastors are such bad people, but why do only pastors who were in inappropriate relationships resign?

So are there small sins and big sins?

What I think it is this: there are no "small sins and big sins" because in the fallen nature of ours, in our total depravity, that there is nothing good in us except for Christ, the gravity of our sins makes no difference to the already depraved situation we are in. The hole is so deep it can't go any deeper. It is so black it can't go any blacker.

However, that does not help to explain Matthew 12:31-32, "So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven— except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come." (NLT)

But inasmuch as there are no small or big sins, it is different when it comes to the consequences of sin - there will be big or small consequences, and that depends on the expectations of each of us.

Sins that cause the disruption of the fabric of church and community needs to be seriously dealt with.

We can only beat our chest in sorrow and say, "O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner." (Luke 18:13b, NLT)

We can only admit in the face of temptations that we are but weak and in need of Christ, and in doing so we hold our ground with the armour of God, not our own feeble armour, if we can even call it an armour, but God's.

pearlie