Seven Deadly Sins: Why We Still Need to Talk About Sin
One of the criticisms often leveled at churches today is that pastors do not talk enough about sin.
The assumption is that preaching has become too positive, too encouraging, and too focused on making people feel good.
So, should we get back to making everybody feel terrible about themselves?
Probably not.
But there is another danger on the opposite side: pretending sin is not a serious problem.
And that is something we cannot afford to do.
Sin Is More Destructive Than We Realize
Talking about sin can be uncomfortable, but avoiding the subject does not make sin disappear.
Sin is one of the most destructive forces in our lives.
It damages relationships. It distorts our thinking. It affects us emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually.
Ignoring sin because the topic makes us uncomfortable is like ignoring a warning sign because we do not like what it says.
The warning is there for a reason.
That is why we are beginning a new Truth Worth Living study on a famously cheerful subject:
The Seven Deadly Sins.
Where Did the Seven Deadly Sins Come From?
You will not find one passage in the Bible that says, “Here are the seven deadly sins.”
The traditional list developed over time.
In the fourth century, a Christian writer named John Cassian discussed eight principal vices. Around A.D. 600, Pope Gregory the Great developed a list of seven major sins in his work Moralia in Job.
The traditional list eventually became:
- Pride
- Envy
- Anger
- Greed
- Sloth
- Gluttony
- Lust
The importance of the list is not that these are the only sins a person can commit.
They are helpful because they describe attitudes and desires that can become deeply rooted in the human heart.
Left unchecked, they can destroy us.
It Is Easier to See Sin in Someone Else
There is also something dangerous about studying sin.
We can become experts at identifying it in other people while completely missing it in ourselves.
We see someone else’s pride.
Someone else’s greed.
Someone else’s anger.
Someone else’s jealousy.
But Scripture repeatedly warns us against believing we are somehow above temptation.
That was one of Peter’s mistakes.
Before Jesus was arrested, Peter was convinced that even if everyone else abandoned Christ, he never would.
Matthew 26:33 records Peter saying:
“Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”
Peter believed the others might fail.
But not him.
Of course, Peter did fall.
And that should remind every Christian of something important:
Spiritual confidence can quickly become spiritual carelessness.
None of Us Is Above Temptation
One of the greatest mistakes we can make is assuming we are too mature, too experienced, or too spiritually strong to fall into sin.
We are not.
Sin is powerful.
Temptation is real.
And Scripture tells us that we have an enemy actively working against us.
Peter eventually learned that lesson personally.
Years later, he wrote:
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
— 1 Peter 5:8
Peter knew what it was like to think he could never fall.
He also knew what it was like to discover that he could.
That is why his warning carries so much weight.
Be alert.
Stay sober-minded.
Recognize the danger.
Resist the enemy.
Why Study the Seven Deadly Sins?
The purpose of this series is not to produce guilt for the sake of guilt.
It is not about looking around the room and deciding which sin everyone else struggles with.
It is about allowing God’s Word to examine us.
Throughout this series, we will look honestly at pride, envy, anger, greed, sloth, gluttony, and lust.
We will ask:
Where do these sins come from?
How do they show up in our everyday lives?
Why are they so destructive?
And most importantly, how does God’s Word teach us to resist them?
We need to understand sin because we need to recognize it before it gains control of our lives.
Peter’s advice is still good advice:
Be alert. Be sober-minded. Resist the enemy.
That is truth worth living.
Truth Worth Living is a Bible teaching ministry focused on understanding God’s Word so we can live in God’s will.