In a few recent conversations, there’s been some back and forth over whether a certain behavior is a sin or not.* The minority view, which held that the behavior is a sin, argued that the behavior is harmful and leads to addiction and unhappiness. Those on the opposite side conceded these points, but argued that it’s just unkind and unhelpful to put that label on the behavior, since many engage in it against their will, or with limited agency, or under pressure from society, or are otherwise pitiable.
These arguments sound like non sequiturs to me.
I find it troubling that some seem to assume that the only reason to label something as sin is to be able to condemn and demean those who commit such acts. I think this defensiveness misunderstands the usefulness of the concept of sin, and the way the Savior intends us to apply it.
As Elder Packer says, a sin is an act that is against the will of God. This definition frees us of a lot of baggage up front. A sin is not something engaged in only by the perverted. It is not an act that brings eternal condemnation on the actor. It is simply an act that does not accord with God’s will.
If you accept the gospel, you certainly accept that labeling something as sinful useful in some cases, given that the gospel undertakes such labeling for many behaviors. For example, no one will dispute that it would be a sin to slap one’s spouse with intent to harm. Also, I think that everyone will agree that there is a benefit to using that label in that case: people will understand that hurting one’s spouse is wrong, is disapproved, and breaks God’s law. It is important to note also what the label does not say, though. Saying that slapping one’s spouse is sin does not say that all spouse slappers are wholly awful people, or that we must avoid association with all spouse slappers, or even that no spouse slappers will attain the celestial kingdom. These last inferences, no matter how frequently they are drawn, are not supported by the statement “spouse-slapping is sin.” All that can be accurately inferred from that statement is that slapping one’s spouse is against God’s will, and will therefore lead one away from God and happiness.
What would motivate the Savior in calling some act a sin? Would he want a reason to condemn a person, or make them feel little, or remove their hope? Is that what we intend when we say that something is a sin? I certainly don’t think so. I think the Savior wants us to know what is sin in order to warn us of the behavior, and suggest to us that when we are caught in it, He is our guide to the exit.
Seen in this sense, any person that struggles with behaviors that damage his or her soul, no matter how unaccountable their actions, no matter how unwilling their complicity, desperately needs to repent, in order to find redemption and happiness in the arms of the Savior. And by repent, I mean find reconciliation with Jesus Christ, who loves us infinitely. It does us no good to pity some people who are caught in behaviors that will certainly lead them to misery and hell, if we are unwilling to combine our pity with the happy tidings that Christ is the solution to their suffering. In short, it’s always a good thing to recognize sin wherever it hides, because only when sin is recognized can its solution be applied. Repentance, in the kind, loving sense of giving up oneself for Christ, requires honesty, and honesty requires calling sin by its name.
Thus, regarding behaviors that afflict the weak and pitiable, we have not less, but more reason to condemn the acts as sinful. Of course, to do this in any spirit besides that borne of Christ’s love would be counterproductive and sinful in itself. But we do not believe in a Christ who gives someone a free pass if they’re beaten down or discouraged. Indeed, it is those people for whom his message is most pertinent. So it’s those people who have most to gain from a true understanding of what sinful behavior is.
*This thread is not the place for the further discussion of eating disorders. My post should be construed to speak generally about the issues addressed, and doesn’t refer specifically to eating disorders. Please limit your thoughts to the meaning and usefulness of sin as a concept, and its proper application in our lives and discussions.