Good evening brothers and sisters.
Today I am here to start a discussion. What is sin? And what are the underlying relationships between different types of sin?
The seven deadly sins are lust, pride, envy, sloth, greed, wrath, and gluttony.
But what are the relationships between these deadly sins? In every case, we find that excess and a lack of restraint is the underlying similarity.
It is good to love, but when love becomes an excess it becomes lust. When we allow ourselves to give into this passion and its excess, it destroys our ability for clear thinking. The sin of lust is a sin of excess.
It is good to be proud of yourself, your family, your work, your education, and all of the things that make you, you. But my brothers, when this sense of pride becomes an excess it becomes arrogance, and it replaces our respect for God. The sin of pride is a sin of excess.
It is good to admire others and their gifts. But when this desire becomes unrestrained and warped, it becomes envy. The sin of envy is a sin of excess.
It is good to rest when the work has been done. But when we allow this natural desire for rest to become excess, it becomes slothfulness. The sin of sloth is a sin of excess.
It is good to desire to improve yourself and your lot in life. However, when we do not restrain this desire and allow for it to become excess, it becomes greed. The sin of greed is a sin of excess.
Anger is a natural response to difficult or frustrating situations. However, when we allow our anger to become unrestrained, or allow it to overtake us, it becomes an unnatural excess. This is supported by Ephesians 4:26, which states "In your anger do not sin." This seems to suggest that anger itself is not a sin, but that sin can be committed in anger. This is wrath, which is a sin of excess.
It is quite natural to eat and enjoy food - this is one of life's divine gifts. However, when we allow our desire to consume food to consume us, this becomes gluttony. Gluttony too, is a sin of excess.
So you see, my brothers and sisters, all of these sins are merely natural impulses that have been left unrestrained, which leads to excess, which leads to sin. It is important as Christians to work to control our passions and natural impulses. Honing ourselves and improving our self-discipline, as well as asking for God's assistance, will deliver us.