“Re-gifting” is the practice of giving a person a present that you previously received as a present.  It is a good way to save money on gifts.  It also sends a clear message to the person you received the gift from that this is not the kind of present that you wish to receive again, especially if they are there when the “re-gift” is opened.

I have begun the practice of giving gifts that cannot be “re-gifted”, by placing the name of the individual somewhere on the gift (the only way to “re-gift” that is to find someone else named Bob).

While, I have a high dislike for this practice, does it qualify as a sin?  Here are the facts:

• Regifting was featured in an episode of Seinfeld as a horrid practice, earning the offending party the heinous title of “regifter”.
• In 1 Chronicles 21, King David is given the chance to “regift” a burnt offering to the Lord.  He responds, in verse 24, by saying, “I will not offer that which costs me nothing.”
• Oprah is a well-known regifter, but has specific rules for regifting, including re-wrapping the present and remembering who you first got the gift from, so as not to regift to the original giver.
• The Environmental Protection Agency has declared “regifting” to be “green gifting”, helping to prevent additional waste product and thus preventing global warming trends.
• The book of Leviticus offers various instructions for the transfer of property.  One of the chief rules is that the property must have been “purchased for a tangible cost”.  Sounds like a strike against regifting to me.

So, I stand by my original thought.  Re-gifting must be a sin.

What do you think?  Is this a sin?  Cast your vote now.

In order to defeat this giant in my life, I feel the necessity to label it for what I believe it to be…sin.  You see, according to our definition, if I know it is right to eat a salad, but I eat an entire ham instead, it is a sin.  So, I thought I would present it to the rest of you.  (I do want to mention that I am sorry for not keeping up with this site.  I have so many writing projects that some of them get lost in the mix.)

Here are the facts:

• Obesity was a very rare problem in Biblical times, mainly because of the lack of crops or animals to eat.  Because of that, when the Bible speaks of the fat, it is often used to describe someone extremely powerful and greedy.  To the Bible, fat means greed.
• The United States is, by far, the fattest nation on the planet.  While the Chinese defeat us in sheer numbers of population, if we were to weigh on a scale, we would outweigh them 2:1.
• In Matthew 24, a wedding feast figures prominently in a parable Jesus tells regarding heaven and our reward there.  To some extent, God feels that we should celebrate through eating.
• Given the choice between exercising more or eating less, doctor say that over 70% of their patients would rather workout an extra hour per day than give up their favorite soda.
• Many genetic disorders contribute to obesity, leaving the choice of whether to be overweight or not as an unreachable goal for some.

It would appear that I am not the only one that has difficulty putting the fork down.  But, if it is not good for our bodies, I cannot imagine that God thinks it is okay.

What do you think?  Is this a sin?  Cast your vote now!

In the United States, substance use is governed strictly.  Certain substances are legal to ingest (re: alcohol, tobacco, prescription medications), while others are restricted (re: illicit drugs, non-prescription narcotics).  Task forces are created to stop the drug problem.  Violent crimes run rampant as a result of illegal drug sales and trafficking.  This has caused some to argue for the legalization of certain drugs that are currently restricted.

When I look to the Bible for help, however, I notice that it is silent regarding substance use (or abuse).  The only substance that it mentions would be alcohol, which was addressed with regards to moderation, not abstinence.  This leads to the question of the day, of course.  Is it a sin to use illegal drugs?  We could narrow it down.  Some think that marijuana is okay, while heroin is wrong.  Some believe that prescription and over-the-counter medications are just as harmful as their more controversial counterparts.  But, what does God think?  Is this a sin?

Here are the facts:

• In numerous places in the Bible, people are admonished to obey the laws of the authorities that govern them (Matthew 22, Romans 13).  However, on several occasions, disciples of Christ were thrown in prison for their disobedience when it comes to the preaching of the Gospel.
• According to a recent public health survey, only 8% of persons over the age of 12 claimed to have ingested an illegal substance in the past month (the equivalent of 17.5 million United States citizens).
• From a medical standpoint, alcohol consumption is far more lethal than marijuana usage.  Cigarette tobacco is universally accepted as a carcinogen and far more addictive than marijuana.
• Harder drugs (such as heroin and cocaine) are amongst some of the most addictive substances on earth and lead to hundreds of thousands of overdose-related emergency room visits every year.
• Over 85% of cocaine users claim to have been introduced to recreational drug use through marijuana.
• 1 Corinthians specifically addresses our respect for our bodies as “the temple of the Holy Spirit”, advising us to flee from sexual immorality and other vices which may harm the temple.
• 99% of 5th graders answered a public school survey with “Doing drugs is wrong.”  68% of 6th graders answered the same way.  9th graders drop to 47% on the same survey.

It’s a lot of information.  But, does it address the “sin” question?  Remember James 4, where the Bible says “If a man knows the right thing to do and doe it not, for him it is sin.”?  Since illicit “drug” use was not an issue in the Bible, we may have to incorporate some good logic into the mix.  It is obvious that heavy drug use is harmful and moderation is next to impossible.  Do we really have to have it spelled out to add it to the list?

What do you think?  Is this a sin?  Cast your vote today!

Tax time is here again.

Of course, as a completely unpolitical person, I know little of what changes have been made to the tax codes in the past year.  I have been told that when a Democrat is in office, I can expect to pay more taxes, unless I am poor, at which point I can expect more on my return.  I am never sure whom to believe about these matters, but all of the tax accountants, software, and e-filing does raise a pretty interesting question.

Is it a sin to not pay your taxes?  I am not talking about the person who, literally, refuses to pay taxes that he/she rightfully owes.  I am talking about the person that creates beautiful tax shelters.  I am referring to the person that registers their vehicle in another location to avoid the taxes in their present location.  You cannot even imagine how creative some tax returns appear to be with all their deductions and credits.  With the thousands of pages of tax code, it is certain that there is a loophole for you.  But, is it wrong to seek out and exploit such loopholes?

Here are the facts:

• According to the IRS, over 80% of Americans commit either tax fraud or tax evasion when they file their federal income tax return.
• In Romans 13, Paul specifically addresses paying taxes.  He states that all authority is God-given.  Therefore, if you owe a tax, you should pay a tax.  He even refers to it as a matter of honoring God, akin to tithing.
• A self-employed person is required to file an income tax return if they have grossed income over $400 in a given year.  But, the vast majority of babysitting, lawn mowing, and yard selling goes unreported.
• In 2009 in the state of Kentucky, the number of traffic stops related to unregistered vehicles was greater than stops related to speeding, reckless driving, and failure to yield…combined.
• In Matthew 22, Jesus addresses government taxation with the statement, “Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s, and to God that which is God’s”.
• Based on the recent census, if every man and woman in the United States would pay the full burden of their federal and state taxes, the national debt would be reduced by almost 5% each year.

Hmm…that is all very interesting.  Of course, how much will it actually change the way I file my taxes?  That is the real question.  It is one thing to say that not paying taxes is harmful or even sneaky.  But, is it really a sin?  Will it keep me from eternity in Heaven?

What do you think?  Is this a sin?  Cast your vote now!

I do have something interesting, though.  I am aware that the Bible is fairly clear on the area of forgiveness.  For the most part, I would say that forgiving other is a prerequisite of being forgiven by God.  But, I have always wondered about this one particular thing.

What if the person that you need to forgive isn’t sorry?

It always drives me crazy when people forgive someone for something they are not sorry about.  It’s almost like a slap in the face.  ”I know you think you’re right, but I forgive you for being so wrong” seems to be the message when this is done.  My favorite thing, when I am in a fight with someone, is forgiving them for being so ignorant.  It really isn’t forgiveness I am offering then.  It is insult.

Also, if God only forgives us when we seek His forgiveness, then does that mean we only have to forgive someone else when they seek our forgiveness?  The unapologetic ones in this world make this forgiveness thing pretty darn hard, you know.  I think it warrants further discussion.

Here are the facts:

• Students at the 9/11 memorial celebration were advised to “forgive, but never forget” the attackers that murdered 2,973 people in 2001.
• “To forgive and not to forget is like burying the hatchet with the handle sticking out.” – derived from a Garth Brooks lyric
• Jesus, when facing His own death, cried out to His Father to forgive His murderers in Luke 23:34…as they were committing the act.
• The vast majority (78%) believe that a person cannot be forgiven unless an apology is made (according to a Gallup poll).
• When given a command from their Master to forgive, Peter inquired as to how many times he must forgive.  The answer?  Seventy times seven. (Matthew 18:22)
• Ephesians 4 speaks very specifically about the bitterness that develops in the life of a person that does not forgive, though it does not mention the confession of the guilty party.

So, it would appear that forgiveness (in the Bible) is not a matter about the one needing forgiveness, but the person needing to forgive.  It is almost like God is saying, “They might not even accept your forgiveness, but you should give it anyway.”  If you think about it, the guilt of a situation weighs on both parties.  One must confess to be free of it.  The other must forgive to be free of it.  The real question is…

Am I going to wait for that other person to apology to be freed from this burden?  My answer would be an emphatic “No!”.

What do you think?  Is this a sin?  Cast your vote today!

We come to the end of our Big Ten series with a commandment that hits the mother load for most of us.  God commands us not to “covet” someone else’s property.  Not only that, He commands us not to “covet” their spouse, ox (job), donkey (car), servants (things that make life easier, such as electronics or appliances)…or anything!  Well, since I am not sure I have ever used the word “covet” in a sentence, it is quite possible that I have done this without even knowing it.  We have to get to the bottom of this.

Here are the facts:

• The definition of “covet” – to desire something someone else has ownership of; to yearn for something that isn’t yours
• The definition of “capitalism” – a free market economic system based upon private ownership to create a more competitive marketplace
• Every example of covetous behavior (called by that name) in the Bible ends with the death of the envious person (Achan, Saul, Judas, Ananias and Sapphira), but one (Balaam); primarily because the covetous behavior led to more aggressive sinfulness.
• Geoffrey Chaucer features seven deadly sins in The Parson’s Tale.  Of those sins, an overwhelming 86% of American college students voted “envy” as the sin they struggle with the most (over pride, greed, lust, anger, gluttony, and sloth).
• The top two rules of commercial advertising (according to Forbes) are:  1.  Find need and satisfy it;  2.  If the need is already satisfied, point out that their neighbor has it satisfied better.

So, it seems that our American society is somewhat at odds with our 10th commandment.  Not only that, it appears that human nature, in general, doesn’t function well under the “Covet” rule.  In fact, when looking at the book of Genesis, all of the first known sins began with envy.  Lucifer wanted to be above God.  Adam and Eve thought God was trying to deprive them of the best fruit.  Cain was jealous of his brother finding favor with God.  The list goes on.  This “covet” thing is dangerous.

But, what is a person to do when every commercial on television is designed to make them envious?  How can we stop “wanting” something?  How do we know when our “want” has turned into “covet”?  Where is the line?

What do you think?  Is this a sin?  Cast your vote now!

Our Big Ten series is drawing to a close.  This week’s 9th commandment is all about the thing that plagues the world we live in…LYING.

This one is rather difficult for me to discuss.  You see, I have always been a HUGE liar.  Ever since I was a kid, I would lie about the smallest of things.  I remember telling people as a young adult (and beyond) that I played basketball in college.  Well…I did play basketball…and I was in college.

It seems that most of us do not like being lied to, but we rarely feel badly when we are the ones doing the lying.  The real question is…are all lies sinful, or just the ones that are about big stuff…or hurting people?  When my wife asks me about the dinner she served that I wasn’t too fond of, is it really a sin for me to color the truth a bit?

Here are the facts:

• The Psalms are filled with passages that refer to “lying lips”.  In almost every instance, the verse states that God hates lying.
• According to a major survey, the time of day when you are most likely to lie or be lied to is between 9 PM and 9:30 PM.
• When asked about who they lie to the most, 72% of adults say “themselves”.  When asked who lies to them the most, 68% of adults say their “spouse or significant other”, with another 22% saying their “children”.
• In Joshua 2, Rahab is rewarded for the lies that she tells to protect God’s people in Jericho.
• The three most common “white lies” involve:  age, speeding, and work absences
• The three most common traits a person looks for in a mate:  common interests, common values, honesty

So, we all value honesty, but we are not all that honest.  Is that what I am reading here?  I kind of wonder if the lies told between 9 and 9:30 all involve wives with headaches.  There is no doubt that people are a truly deceptive species. So, what does that mean for this 9th commandment that specifically prohibits bearing “false witness”?

What do you think?  Is this a sin?  Cast your vote today!

Stealing is bad.  I learned that when I was a kid.  If another kid had the toy, I should not take it from him.  Good teaching, mom!

But, what if stealing is the only way you can survive?  Can you steal if you are starving?

Or, what about some other forms of theft that do not seem to rise to stealing?  Like cheating on your taxes?  Or paying for one soda from the drink fountain and refilling it repeatedly to serve your entire family (a friend in Jersey used to do this)?

Stealing is such a broad term.  It seems that we should define it better.  Here are the facts:

• Dictionary definition of stealing:  To take without right or permission
• Throughout the Old Testament, the children of Israel would take the land and property of Canaanites by force, because God gave them permission (and command them) to do so.
• The IRS estimates that some $16 billion per year are lost to the U.S. government because of tax evasion and another $10 billion from tax fraud.
• According to the Federal Reserve, income tax is something that is voluntarily offered through the signing of a W-4, raising the question of who is stealing from whom when it comes to federal income taxes.
• In Malachi 3, God declares that people steal from Him when they do not give tithes and offerings.
• Illegal file-sharing (through LimeWire, Bearshare, etc) cost the music industry approximately 0.7% of sales last year, while the introduction of digital sales (through iTunes, Amazon, etc) increased sales by 35% over 2009.
• The most common question asked in Ethics classes across university campuses:  ”Is it wrong to steal a loaf of bread to feed your starving family?”  The most common answer given by college students?  No.

So, this stealing question is a little more difficult than it would initially seem.  In fact, God appears to endorse the taking of property by the nation of Israel, but condemns the person that watches the offering plate pass by.  Most of us have a great sense of fair play until the issue of survival takes hold.  Then, it is every man for himself.  Hmm…sounds interesting…this “stealing” thing…

What do you think?  Is this a sin?  Cast your vote now!

Here is another one that seems pretty straight forward until you look a little deeper.  I, personally, have been married for over 15 years to the most wonderful woman.  I cannot really understand why anyone would want to throw away a marriage for the pleasure of an affair.

However…

I have viewed pornography during my marriage, leading me to lust after a woman other than my wife.  Is that a sin? Well, just ask my wife!  It cost me so much trust with her that I thought we would never get back to the way things were.  This, of course, opens the door to a myriad of other questions about just what adultery (marital cheating) consists of.   For instance, can my wife have dinner with another man without me being there?  If both partners approve of an “open” relationship, then is it really adultery?  At what point is the line actually crossed into an adulterous relationship (intercourse, kissing, hanging out)?  What about polygamists?

All of these questions are interesting, but let’s look at some facts:

• In Matthew 5, Jesus says that a man that looks at a woman with lust in his heart has committed adultery with her already. (Notice there is no mention of either party being married…interesting)
• 90% of Americans proclaim adultery as wrong, while 60% of Americans have had at least 1 extramarital sexual encounter in their lifetime.  Over 85% of adults say that they routinely “flirt” with the opposite sex.
• The ancient practice of polygamy is never addressed in the Old Testament (although many of its central persons had multiple wives), while the New Testament specifically mentions “husband of one wife” on 3 distinct occasions.
• 53% of men attending a Promise Keepers rally admitted to viewing internet pornography during the week prior to the event.
• Over 70% of people will eat lunch with a co-worker of the opposite sex.  Over 85% of adulterous relationships are with someone from work.
• The Hebrew text for the Adultery Commandment refers specifically to the married woman, since males of that day were not considered bound to their marriages.

It seems that most people feel that cheating is wrong, but do nothing to curb their behavior.  Whether it is a belief that “it won’t happen to me” or a simple refusal to care, we are left with a society that finds more and more unique ways around this 7th commandment.  Of course, this is nothing new.  People have been finding ways to sleep around for centuries.  But, all of the technicalities do not answer our question about cheating, adultery, and sin.

What do you think?  Is this a sin?  Cast your vote now!

So far, The Big Ten hasn’t been all that controversial, has it?  Most of these principals make sense.  None make more sense than the 6th commandment, a blanket prohibition of murder.  Of course, this one might not be as clear-cut as you think.

The Bible, in case you haven’t read it, is a pretty bloody book.  There is death and death-dealing throughout, much of it commanded by the same God that issued this 6th commandment.  Not only does He command killing in battle, but, at times, God requires the genocide of entire nations (that would include women and children, if you are keeping score at home).  Several of God’s commandments require capital punishment, including killing rebellious children.

We do not subscribe to all of these commands today, so it would only make sense that we should sort through this particular commandment and determine what is a sin and what is acceptable.  Here are the facts:

• King David was a great leader of Israel that committed many justified killings in battle and for punishment.  When the time came to build God’s temple, the Lord would not allow David to build it because of the blood that stained his hands.  It appears that even justified killing is not without its price.
• According to a Catholic poll, 62% of individuals claiming to be pro-life (believe abortion is murder) are in strong support of capital punishment (death penalty).
• Murder, by definition, means “to kill wantonly (without motive, provocation, or justification)”.
• When confronted with a person guilty of a capital crime, Jesus responded with forgiveness, though He was justified to administer the death penalty.
• A vast majority of Americans (86.5%), in a recent poll, stated that they would kill someone in defense of their property.
• Across all the households of the United States, there are currently 2 guns for every American citizen.

It seems that we are an extremely violent people…even today.  There is an obvious conflict between the 6th commandment and the remainder of our own moral code.  According to the definition of murder, as long as there is a motive, it isn’t murder (that doesn’t sound right, does it?).  Of course, other translations of Exodus 20 say, “Thou shalt not kill“, which would seem to be a blanket statement against death-dealing of any sort.

So, which is it?  Can I kill as long as there is a good reason?  Can I kill if I think I am being threatened (watch out for paranoids)?  Can I kill if I am administering Biblical justice (ouch)?

What do you think?  Is this a sin?  Cast your vote today!