Are All Sins the Same Before God?

by Jeff Durbin

There's a lot of talk today about abortion and national sin. There's also a significant display of ignorance about God's Law and His judgment upon nations (including pagan nations). I saw a few people arguing that though child sacrifice is sin, it's not like God would pick any one particular sin to judge a nation and drive them out of a land. I mean, "Hey, we're all sinners, right? All sins are the same to God, right?"

This is sheer, unbiblical ignorance. And it shows that theology matters. Bootleg theology can sound so true until we open our Bible and simply read. Unbiblical views and ignorance of God's Law, today, tend to show up in moments like this.

As a start: All sins will separate you from God for all eternity no matter how "small". Yes. Very true. However, keep in mind, God didn't call for the death penalty for theft. He did for murder. So, no. Not all sins are the same before God. There are heinous sins and crimes for which God has stiffer penalties; for individuals and for nations.

Furthermore, there is a category of specific sins for which God says He judges (even pagan nations) and drives people out of a land. These sins run across the sexual and even child sacrifice (Leviticus 18; 20). Look at this regarding the sexually perverse in Leviticus 18: