One seeks comment respecting how little sins (i.e., a little sinfulness versus much sinfulness) committed by Christians hurts the Lord’s church. Specifically, one asks about the church being hurt by a little gambling, a little drinking, a little partying and a little swearing.
The apostle Paul exhorted Christians to refrain from every category or type of sin (1 Thessalonians 5:22). Paul adamantly denied the proposition that Christians might sin as though they are permitted to do so in view of the grace of God that saves us (Romans 6:1-2). Every sin has the capability of sending an impenitent soul to a devil’s hell (Romans 6:23).
In addition to the affect of sin on the sinner, when Christians commit publicly known sins, the Lord’s church is reproached (1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:1). Gambling is counter to the Christian work ethic and is akin to theft (Ephesians 4:28). Drunkenness (i.e., intoxication of any degree) is uniformly condemned throughout the Bible (Proverbs 23:29-35; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Partying in such a way as to be sinful is cataloged with “works of the flesh” in Galatians 5:19-21. Any type of “corrupt communication” coming from one’s mouth is sinful (Ephesians 4:29).
