Ask a group of Christians to name sins, and they’ll probably tell you the same stuff. You know, things like adultery and theft, lying, perhaps also pride, all of the things that everyone already expects. But there are some other behaviours in the Bible that people don’t talk about a lot during everyday Church life. Perhaps they should. Here are ten sins that many Christians ignore at their own risk. We’re not judging anyone for doing these, but it’s well worth knowing about what things the Bible warns against.
1. Worry
Worrying is something that feels responsible to many people, and they often think it shows they care or that they’re serious about their problems. But Jesus spoke about it differently. In Matthew 6:25-34, he repeatedly tells his followers not to worry about things like food or clothing, even the future. Biblical scholar R.T. France actually addressed what Jesus supposedly meant by this.
Apparently, he wasn’t dismissing people’s real needs, but rather, he was trying to address the anxious mindset that people have, which treats survival as something that depends completely on our control. Persistent anxiety is a sign of a lack of trust, rather than a personality trait. That’s why Jesus warned against it.
2. Neglecting hospitality
There’s a lot more to hospitality in the Bible than simply hosting dinner parties, as Hebrews 13:2 states that believers shouldn’t neglect showing hospitality to strangers. Of course, that can sound a little strange to a modern audience. It seems a lot like you’re entertaining friends or planning social events. But the biblical version is far broader and includes many other aspects.
These include welcoming unfamiliar people and those whom it would be inconvenient to welcome, as well as those who are outside your normal circle. Such a wide meaning is, sadly, one that quite a few Christians ignore, without realizing how the Bible speaks about it.
3. Presuming on tomorrow
No, planning ahead isn’t wrong, whether that’s business plans or family plans. Even church plans are okay. However, the real warning in James 4:13-17 is more to do with people confidently announcing their future plans without acknowledging how uncertain life can truly be. These may be as simple as your travel plans.
But the wrong attitude behind the plans can be a problem, according to New Testament scholar Douglas Moo, because it assumes that tomorrow automatically belongs to you. It doesn’t. Unfortunately, our modern life runs on scheduling & long-term planning that makes such a mindset feel normal, and that’s why so many Christians ignore these warnings.
4. Divisiveness
It doesn’t matter that some people think constant arguing is a sign of courage because the Bible doesn’t. In fact, Titus 3:10 clearly says that you should warn a divisive person once and then again. Failing to change means that the divisive person should be separated from the group. Yes, really. It seems like a rather serious response to something that many churches tend to treat more casually.
The important thing to remember is that the issue has more to do with the person who keeps causing fights, rather than normal disagreements. Someone who continually reopens issues that have been settled & turns small situations into ongoing drama is a problem. Essentially, Christians shouldn’t praise argumentative personalities as people being bold or fearless.
5. Meddling in other people’s business
There are quite a few sins listed in 1 Peter 4:15, and one of those is something that surprises many people. Peter actually warns people not to suffer as meddlers. Of course, that’s not a word that we use as often today, but it’s something that Peter claims as sin, alongside murderers & thieves.
His point is clear. Anyone who constantly inserts themselves into other people’s lives is crossing a line, whether that behavior comes from gossip-driven curiosity or controlling behavior. Making yourself part of conflicts that had nothing to do with you is a sin. It doesn’t matter how helpful you might think you are by doing so.
6. Withholding fair pay
James 5:4 quite clearly states that unpaid wages cry out against the people who held them back, and the verse in question refers to workers who never received what they were owed. It only applies to those who have completed their necessary labor. The verse is deliberately meant to be uncomfortable for anyone who manages money or employees, and James is trying to address real economic abuse.
Some Christians are aware of this verse, yet they may ignore it because they imagine it applies to ancient farming situations only. But that’s not true. This section applies to modern workplaces & delayed paychecks, as well as unfair compensation, as clearly as any other form of pay withholding.
7. Casual oath-making & slippery speech
There’s quite a simple instruction in James 5:12, and that’s that you should let your yes mean yes, and your no mean no. Essentially, keep your words plain and stick to them. James warns Christians to avoid making extra promises or using exaggerated language to make other people believe them, as these were common talking styles in the ancient world.
You can still see similar kinds of language in business deals and social media today. But the Bible says we shouldn’t speak like that. Instead, we should speak without verbal theatrics to make honesty normal, so extra assurances are no longer necessary in our language.
8. Taking revenge
Revenge sure is tempting, even to Christians, and it’s even more tempting when someone has wronged you. Yet Romans 12:19 directly tells believers to avoid doing so. You’re supposed to leave justice in God’s hands, whether it’s an issue or taking revenge because of war or criminal punishment.
Biblical scholars like Douglas Moo state that Paul was trying to teach people about the dangers of personal retaliation and the urge to settle scores. Never embarrass someone publicly or try to get payback, no matter how subtle. You’re better off leaving it up to God to decide how the “favor” will be returned.
9. Idleness
You might be surprised to learn how many times Paul brings up idleness. He mentions in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 that believers should live quietly and mind their work, then in 2 Thessalonians 3, he criticizes those who stopped working. He claims that they have become disruptive busybodies who are only causing problems for those around them.
That’s not to say that Paul was worried about productivity culture, but rather, he was trying to teach people the dangers of living off others and causing conflict. Sadly, some Christians overlook such behavior. They sometimes see inactivity as something harmless, yet the Bible clearly states that it’s anything but.
10. Bitterness
Bitterness is far more subtle than a lot of people recognize, and it can hide in the background of a relationship for years. That’s what Paul speaks about in Ephesians 4:31. He advises believers to remove any kind of bitterness from their lives, along with rage & anger, because it can settle into their character after being around too long.
Sure, you might think you’ve handled conflicts because you’re not openly fighting. But the Bible warns against the resentment that could remain underneath. Don’t allow it to become a part of your personality.
What makes these sins so easy to ignore is that they’re rarely the kind to get a lot of attention. No, these habits are those hidden away among normal routines & conversations, so they blend into your normal life relatively easily. But they’re in Scripture alongside some of the more obvious moral failings. Perhaps we should take closer notice of them.
