What are man-made sins?

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Grailhunter

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The understanding of sin allows us to apply Christian morality to our lives.

It gives us the knowledge to judge right and wrong.

We look to the scriptures to learn what Christ defined as sins, and what He did not.

So we use that information as a guide to the morals of our lives. What we should do, and what we should not do.

It is an inevitable consequence that we will also use that knowledge, to judge the actions of others. So whether it be, applying morals to our own lives or judging the action of others, it is important to know what sin is.

The scriptures speak a lot about judging. Christ warns about this and in fact, as far as sins go, this topic and hypocrisy are some of His longest discussions. But still, putting it in motion, we have to judge some things based on these morals. Like choosing Deacons in our church, who we are going to go into business with, if we are going to let a hitchhiker step into the car with our family, or who will date our young daughter. Or the Policeman that has to judge when to arrest someone. Judging others is inevitable and necessary, but what is the standard, what are the consequences of our judgment?

How many sins are man-made? Man-made sins are routinely used to unjustly condemn others. This is a sin in of itself, and it can cause great harm to others, to the extent of offending someone and they turn away from Christianity. At which point the condemner is directly responsible for the loss of a soul. If I recall, something about a milestone and the sea.

To cut to the chase and the obvious, rejection of God, idolatry, murder, adultery, stealing, do not covet…anything…are taken as the standard. This brings us back to the question…..
What are man-made sins?
 
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Enoch111

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This brings us back to the question…..What are man-made sins?
I don't believe there is any such category as "man-made" sins. Sins are sins and righteousness is righteousness. Most human sins are mentioned in Scripture. Sin is the transgression of the Law, and also whatsoever is not of faith is sin (as stated in the Bible).

Furthermore, the Christian's focus should not be on sins and sinning, but righteous deeds and righteousness. See Philippians 4.
 

Grailhunter

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Actually a survey of the various denominations provides a good list of possible man-made sins…taboos.

Tobacco use
Drinking alcoholic beverages
Drinking coffee…caffeine
Eating pork
Gambling
Card and dice games
Women wearing pants
Women wearing shorts
Women wearing make-up
Women wearing dresses above the knees
Women working outside the home
Men with long hair
Dancing
Various types of music
Going to the swimming pool
Physical sports such as boxing and football
Military service
Female preachers
The use of any other bible other than the King James Version
Visiting or associating with other denominational churches
Watching television
The use of any modern devices.
I am sure there are more….
 
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amadeus

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Actually a survey of the various denominations provides a good list of possible man-made sins…taboos.
...…..........................
I am sure there are more….
I am glad you inserted the word, "possible" for almost any you have listed could be a sin in a real life situation or NOT. It is pointless to name them since your statements are hypothetical. In a real situation there will be no, maybe yes, or, maybe no.
 
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marks

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I am glad you inserted the word, "possible" for almost any you have listed could be a sin in a real life situation or NOT. It is pointless to name them since your statements are hypothetical. In a real situation there will be no, maybe yes, or, maybe no.
Hi amadeus,

That's just it . . . hypotheticals aren't real, and therefore, all you can do is surmise and speculate.

Much love!
 
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jaybird

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Actually a survey of the various denominations provides a good list of possible man-made sins…taboos.

Tobacco use
Drinking alcoholic beverages
Drinking coffee…caffeine
Eating pork
Gambling
Card and dice games
Women wearing pants
Women wearing shorts
Women wearing make-up
Women wearing dresses above the knees
Women working outside the home
Men with long hair
Dancing
Various types of music
Going to the swimming pool
Physical sports such as boxing and football
Military service
Female preachers
The use of any other bible other than the King James Version
Visiting or associating with other denominational churches
Watching television
The use of any modern devices.
I am sure there are more….

i remember lots of these when i was a kid, i really believed they were sins. i remember when the internet was new back in the 90s it was a sin, man and women (not married) living together was a sin. what was the problem with going to the swimming pool?
 

Grailhunter

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i remember lots of these when i was a kid, i really believed they were sins. i remember when the internet was new back in the 90s it was a sin, man and women (not married) living together was a sin. what was the problem with going to the swimming pool?

Devilish Bikinis!!!! OOHHHH so horrible!!! Cover your eyes, the devil will get in!! lol
 
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Hidden In Him

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Actually a survey of the various denominations provides a good list of possible man-made sins…taboos.

Tobacco use
Drinking alcoholic beverages
Drinking coffee…caffeine
Eating pork
Gambling
Card and dice games
Women wearing pants
Women wearing shorts
Women wearing make-up
Women wearing dresses above the knees
Women working outside the home
Men with long hair
Dancing
Various types of music
Going to the swimming pool
Physical sports such as boxing and football
Military service
Female preachers
The use of any other bible other than the King James Version
Visiting or associating with other denominational churches
Watching television
The use of any modern devices.
I am sure there are more….

Interesting list. I would have posted something like "not obeying the man of God" where it concerns commands about who one should marry, if one should marry a certain person or not, if he should work at such and such a place, etc. You know, the control-freak cult leader types, who want every decision going through them.

But about your list, some might actually qualify as scriptural.
- Tobacco, Caffeine and Alcohol use, in sufficient quantities, are all detrimental to one's health, and could be thus considered as sins according to the scripture that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and must be cared for properly.
- Forbidding the eating of pork was a scriptural command, but done away with in the NT era.
- Gambling might fall under the headings of being an unwise steward with one's money, and of making sure one is not ruled over by anything (some are seriously addicted to it).
- Men with long hair was associated with effeminacy during NT times, and therefore commanded against. That association is not so automatic in modern times, however, so the social context has changed somewhat.
- Dancing; not on your life, LoL. Frequently cited in scripture as a way of expressing praise to God when done in a godly fashion.
- Various types of music is an interesting one. The early church eventually developed the doctrine that the use of instruments was intoxicating and could lead to sin, and therefore decreed that Christian worship be acapella only. I think that was taking things a tad too far.
- Going to the swimming pool, if you mean in a skimpy bathing suit, is actually one I have wondered about myself. Many bathing suits leave nothing to the imagination, and IMO foster sin among the youth. Not sure how you fix that one, but it's a problem the way I see it. But then, I came to Christ having serious problems with lust.
- Boxing and Football, nah. It's not like the Colosseum, where men where being murdered or eaten alive for the entertainment of others.
- Military service: This one potentially starts a big, highly-involved debate. I'll leave it alone for now.
- Women Preachers: I don't think women being preachers is a sin, but many do and cite supposed scriptural proofs for it.
- King James only: Yes.
- Visiting other churches: We were discussing visiting or associating with other churches just the other day. That's just another control-freak issue, IMO.
- Watching television: Until Football season, I'm pretty safe there, LoL. Not sure many would have the guts to foist this one on their congregations. They'd probably be left with only the crickets chirping.
 

Grailhunter

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I am glad you inserted the word, "possible" for almost any you have listed could be a sin in a real life situation or NOT. It is pointless to name them since your statements are hypothetical. In a real situation there will be no, maybe yes, or, maybe no.

Most of these are not supported by scripture....but could you rephrase your response, I got lost in the circle. lol
 
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Grailhunter

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Interesting list. I would have posted something like "not obeying the man of God" where it concerns commands about who one should marry, if one should marry a certain person or not, if he should work at such and such a place, etc. You know, the control-freak cult leader types, who want every decision going through them.

But about your list, some might actually qualify as scriptural.
- Tobacco, Caffeine and Alcohol use, in sufficient quantities, are all detrimental to one's health, and could be thus considered as sins according to the scripture that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and must be cared for properly.
- Forbidding the eating of pork was a scriptural command, but done away with in the NT era.
- Gambling might fall under the headings of being an unwise steward with one's money, and of making sure one is not ruled over by anything (some are seriously addicted to it).
- Men with long hair was associated with effeminacy during NT times, and therefore command against. That association is not so automatic in modern times, however, so the social context has changed somewhat.
- Dancing; not on your life, LoL. Frequently cited in scripture as a way of expressing praise to God when done in a godly fashion.
- Various types of music is an interesting one. The early church eventually developed the doctrine that the use of instruments was intoxicating and could lead to sin, and therefore decreed that Christian worship be acapella only. I think that was taking things a tad too far.
- Going to the swimming pool, if you mean in a skimpy bathing suit, is actually one I have wondered about myself. Many bathing suits leave nothing to the imagination these days, and foster sin among the youth. Not sure how you fix that one, but it's a problem IMO. I came to Christ having serious problems with lust, however.
- Boxing and Football, nah. It's not like the Colosseum, where men where being murdered or eaten alive for the entertainment of others.
- Military service: This one potentially starts a big, highly-involved debate. I'll leave it alone for now.
- Women Preachers: I don't think women being preachers is a sin, but many do and cite supposed scriptural proofs for it.
- King James only: Yes.
- Visiting other churches: We were discussing visiting or associating with other churches just the other day. That's just another control-freak issue, IMO.
- Watching television: Until Football season, I'm pretty safe there, LoL. Not sure many would have the guts to foist this one on their congregations. They'd probably be left with only the crickets chirping.


Most of these are not scriptural....although people want them to be. Wine for instance, when they talk about drunk, they mean drunk. This is a culture of drinking wine. There is no such thing as a grape press...it is all wine presses...grape juice will not last in the summer. A lot of the symbolizes of Christianity are tied up in this, more so then than now. The parables and stories of the vineyard, the vines, the wine, and the ritual of the last supper and the meaning of that and its correlation between wine and Christ's blood. They drank wine, a lot...granted that many times they watered it down. When people traveled they drank watered down wine to neutral the difference between wells. This is why Paul told Timothy to drink a little wine for his stomach. And then Paul told them not to let anyone judge you on what you eat or drink. And the whole eat or drink think...Peter was behind him 100%.
 
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Hidden In Him

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Most of these are not scriptural....although people want them to be. Wine for instance, when they talk about drunk, they mean drunk. This is a culture of drinking wine. There is no such thing as a grape press...it is all wine presses...grape juice will not last in the summer. A lot of the symbolizes of Christianity are tied up in this, more so then than now. The parables and stories of the vineyard, the vines, the wine, and the ritual of the last supper and the meaning of that and its correlation between wine and Christ's blood. They drank wine, a lot...granted that many times they watered it down. When people traveled they drank watered down wine to neutral the difference between wells. This is why Paul told Timothy to drink a little wine for his stomach.

I agree. That's why I said "in sufficient quantities." Despite using wine as a societal norm, the commands were still there to guard against becoming drunk.
And then Paul told them not to let anyone judge you on what you eat or drink. And the whole eat or drink think...Peter was behind him 100%.

About this, it had to do with Essenism and eating and drinking foods and liquids that were unclean, so it's a different issue. But the rest I fully agree with.
 
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Grailhunter

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I agree. That's why I said "in sufficient quantities." Despite using wine as a societal norm, the commands were still there to guard against becoming drunk.


About this, it had to do with Essenism and eating and drinking foods and liquids that were unclean, so it's a different issue. But the rest I fully agree with.


The Essenes were great and thank God for them, but no real part of Christianity. The more you know about the culture the more all this makes sense. Christ was accused more than once of hanging out with the drinkers. It is a culture thing....what else did they have to drink.
 

Helen

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Actually a survey of the various denominations provides a good list of possible man-made sins…taboos.

Tobacco use
Drinking alcoholic beverages
Drinking coffee…caffeine
Eating pork
Gambling
Card and dice games
Women wearing pants
Women wearing shorts
Women wearing make-up
Women wearing dresses above the knees
Women working outside the home
Men with long hair
Dancing
Various types of music
Going to the swimming pool
Physical sports such as boxing and football
Military service
Female preachers
The use of any other bible other than the King James Version
Visiting or associating with other denominational churches
Watching television
The use of any modern devices.
I am sure there are more….

Aaah, I think I have it now...you mean LEGALISM ....weights on the shoulder that God did not put there.... or, what I call "Ought-ism".

When I was first saved I was told to not wear makeup any more. It was a sin of the flesh. I was told my skirt was too short. I was told to not wear my bright coloured clothes any more. ( it made me a sinner because I went ahead anyway, except when I went 'to church' until one day I bumped into the Pastor while out shopping...and felt naked before him) .... I was told I must do nothing in the morning before I had read my bible and spent time in prayer...the religion of oughtism . Not one of these thing did I hear from God, but only from man.
 
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Grailhunter

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Aaah, I think I have it now...you mean LEGALISM ....weights on the shoulder that God did not put there.... or, what I call "Ought-ism".

When I was first saved I was told to not wear makeup any more. It was a sin of the flesh. I was told my skirt was too short. I was told to not wear my bright coloured clothes any more. ( it made me a sinner because I went ahead anyway, except when I went 'to church' until one day I bumped into the Pastor while out shopping...and felt naked before him) .... I was told I must do nothing in the morning before I had read my bible and spent time in prayer...the religion of oughtism . Not one of these thing did I hear from God, but only from man.
I will send you a comm on why all this occurred.
 
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Hidden In Him

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The Essenes were great and thank God for them

The Essenes were the ultimate "holier than thou" cult, and in regard to what Jesus taught about "It is not that which goes into the body that defiles a man but that which comes from the heart," the Essenes would have absolutely hated Him and regarded Him as the worst kind of heretic known to man, LoL.

So they would have epitomized those who created man-made sins during NT times. Jesus, and Paul, were far far different in their teachings and practice : )
 

Helen

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what was the problem with going to the swimming pool?

Oh funny, you reminded me ...talk about a double standard. We lived by the sea back then...and the second spiritual oversight in charge , a lady...( she was actually lovely and taught me much , things I have never forgotten) felt it was sin to be undressed on the beach. ( I was 24 at the time and did have a bikini :) ) ...she asked ME to go with her down to the beach and teach her two young boys 7 & 8 how to swim! So she looked after my two toddlers , while I taught her boys how to swim. And she never told me to cover up as I was 'sinning'..haha!! But her dress was almost to the ankles, with long sleeves.
 
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Grailhunter

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The Essenes were the ultimate "holier than thou" cult, and in regard to what Jesus taught about "It is not that which goes into the body that defiles a man but that which comes from the heart," the Essenes would have absolutely hated Him and regarded Him as the worst kind of heretic known to man, LoL.

So they would have epitomized those who created man-made sins during NT times. Jesus, and Paul, were far far different in their teachings and practice : )


Correct.
The man-made sins did not occur during the era of the bible, not counting the Jews trying to push the kosher dietary requirements on the Christians. That was done with people trying to prove themselves more....righteous...the lazy way....not more correct by what you do....but by what you don't do. As it is today...the most righteous....whatever... person would be the guy that lived in a closet.
 

Grailhunter

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Oh funny, you reminded me ...talk about a double standard. We lived by the sea back then...and the second in charge , a lady...( she was actually lovely and taught me much , things I have never forgotten) felt it was sin to be undressed on the beach. ( I was 24 at the time and did have a bikini :) ) ...she asked ME to go with her down to the beach and teach her two young boys 7 & 8 how to swim! So she looked after my two toddlers , while I taught her boys how to swim. And she never told me to cover up as I was 'sinning'..haha!!

lol belly role!!!! We have to get on this topic one of these days1
 
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GodsGrace

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Actually a survey of the various denominations provides a good list of possible man-made sins…taboos.

Tobacco use
Drinking alcoholic beverages
Drinking coffee…caffeine
Eating pork
Gambling
Card and dice games
Women wearing pants
Women wearing shorts
Women wearing make-up
Women wearing dresses above the knees
Women working outside the home
Men with long hair
Dancing
Various types of music
Going to the swimming pool
Physical sports such as boxing and football
Military service
Female preachers
The use of any other bible other than the King James Version
Visiting or associating with other denominational churches
Watching television
The use of any modern devices.
I am sure there are more….
Oh boy.
I think I'm going straight to the hot place.
And many nice persons I know !