There is no such thing as a “Sin Meter”

This last Sunday many churches commemorated “Sanctity of Life Month” by speaking out against abortion. Shockingly, since 1973, over 30% of U.S. women of child bearing age have had an abortion. Even more disturbing, the rate of abortions for self-identified Christians is nearly the same. So while this is a political and moral issue, it is also a very painful person issue for many women (and men).

I wonder how many women stayed home from church on Sanctity of Life Sunday, yet unable to shed feelings of shame & guilt.  Sadly, some sins carry a stigma—abortion being one. And though we all know there is no such thing as a “sin meter,” certain sins seem to be singled out as worse. Another example of this is homosexuality.  During the AIDS epidemic, some preachers publicly declared that AIDS was God’s judgment against homosexuals. While there is no doubt that certain sins have more severe consequences, the result of drawing attention to a particular sin is that we appear to be "sin discriminators."

When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, rebuking "fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, thieves, covetous people, drunkards, revilers, and swindlers"  (1 Cor. 6:10.), later adding "quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior" (2 Cor. 12:20), he equalized all sinners.  And in a tone of hope and love, declared, “Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 6:11).