What is the unforgivable sin?
Interpretations 25 to 33; all different.
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25: Not forgiving others: David Miano, writing for the American Unitarian
Conference refers to Matthew 6:14-15:
"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father
will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses,
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Miano concludes:
"For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father
will forgive you as well. But if you don't forgive people, your Father
will not forgive you your wrongdoing." 1
26: Committing suicide: Ben Beilharz
posed the question whether suicide is the unforgivable sin. He cites two
references:
St. Augustine (354-430 CE) taught that suicide was a terrible sin.
St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) taught that suicide is a mortal sin.
A person who committed suicide would have no opportunity to repent of
the sin. Thus, they could not be forgiven, and would go to
Hell. 2
27: Claiming to be free of sin: "Valinors_sorrow" responded to a forum on The Unforgiven Sin at
AskMeHelpDesk.com. He wrote:
"I read somewhere that the only unforgivable sin was to claim a state
of sinless (which is often the theme of ultimate evil in literature and
history) and although it seemed pretty lame at first, later after I had
turned it over and over in my mind, I realized it was a pretty good
checkmate to blocking out any sunlight of the spirit. ..." 3
28: Denying the Trinity on Judgment Day: "Aqua@home"responded to the same forum, writing:
"... the unforgivable sin is plain and simple, rejection. I think it
is final on Judgment Day when everything is before you, God, Jesus and
the Holy Ghost and you still deny them. I think that is the unforgivable
sin. Until then as long as we are sincere, all can be forgiven.
3
29 to 31: Other sins: Kyle Butt of ApologeticsPress
lists other candidates for the unforgivable sin that have been proposed:
murder, adultery, "postponement of obedience until death." He rejects them
all, writing:
"... we cannot arbitrarily decide which sins we think are heinous, and then simply attribute to them
the property of being unpardonable ..." 4
32 & 33: Other sins: Jason Boyett, author of the Pocket Guide to the Afterlife wrote:
"There's some confusion over what an unpardonable sin would actually
entail. Some think it's murder. Others think it's a second round of adultery
after you've already played your first 'it was just a stupid mistake and won't
happen again' card. Most Mormons think the unpardonable sin involves having
your eyes opened to the truth of salvation -- that is, getting the
chance, even in hell, to choose faith -- but denying it anyway. Cold. That's
blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, and it earns you eternity in fire and
brimstone."
References:
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