Every Act Counts: Interpreting Church Teachings on Sin
Based on the presented sources, any violation of the established commandments and Church rules is considered a deviation from the will of God and, therefore, may be regarded as sin. In particular, the first source states:"Do not think of any sin as insignificant: every sin is a violation of God's Law, an opposition to God's will, a violation of conscience. From idleness, from trivial, unseen transgressions, we gradually move on to great falls.
What does this mean?— Is it a great sin? — What kind of sin is it? — It is not sin! — thus reasons one who does not care for his salvation when he decides to taste the forbidden, law-proscribed sinful fare." (source: link txt)This passage emphasizes that regardless of the apparent insignificance of an act, any action deviating from the established norms is considered a violation of God's Law. A similar understanding of the nature of sin is presented in the second source:"Sin is a human resistance to the Creator's will, which is revealed either through Scripture, or through Church commandments, or through the voice of conscience. Sin is not merely an error or misdeed; it is precisely a violation of God's will." (source: link txt)These excerpts indicate that even if a violation (for example, an unintentional act in a sacred place) may seem trivial or accidental, it is still a deviation from the established order and, consequently, a sin. Moreover, the context of the individual's intentions is important: if such behavior is deliberate, it points to a systematic violation, which renders the sin more serious.Thus, an unintentional or repeated violation of Church norms, even if it manifests as an act that at first glance may seem insignificant (such as farting in church), should be evaluated as a deviation from God's will and a violation of the established norms of the Church. It is always important to strive to observe the rules and show respect for sacred spaces, so as not to commit a violation that could adversely affect one's spiritual state.Supporting citation(s):"Do not think of any sin as insignificant: every sin is a violation of God's Law, an opposition to God's will, a violation of conscience..." (source: link txt)"Sin is a human resistance to the Creator's will, which is revealed either through Scripture, or through Church commandments, or through the voice of conscience..." (source: link txt)