Which Is Worse?

Scripture: Luke 17:1 – “Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Occasions for sin are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come!’” (NRSVUE)

Which is worse: the crime or the abetting of the crime? Obviously, the crime is worse. What you do matters most of all; if there is no crime there is no harm. People are judged by their actions, not their thoughts. But Jesus says something interesting in chapter 17 of the Gospel According to Luke that might make us rethink this idea in certain circumstances.

Many people argue it is human nature to sin, to make mistakes, to fall short of the glory of God. I like to see sin less as a stain of guilt than as an imperfect feature of humanity, a bug that is in some ways a feature, for only an imperfect creature with free will can love God fully. Jesus was always sympathetic to those who made mistakes, even deadly ones, and urged his disciples to forgive ceaselessly. To Jesus the worse sin is to allow others to sin, to encourage bad behavior of others for one’s own benefit. Jesus says, “It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to sin.”

Reflecting on this passage, I thought of the War on Drugs. I grew up in the 80s and 90s, so I have always had a strong revulsion to drug use. I always thought that not taking drugs was easy; just say no. But life is not that easy, and this was made especially clear as the drug epidemic has shifted from recreational drugs like cocaine to painkillers like fentanyl. Prescriptions turned into addiction. And I came to see drug use as less of a moral failing than as a public health problem. Addicts needed support and encouragement, not shame and jail time. So, I have always seen the problem lying more with the drug dealers than the drug takers. When given the opportunity, people will fall into sin. Perhaps the best method of prevention is to limit the opportunity.

Jesus encourages us to take a step back before we judge people and understand why they are doing what they are doing. Is this a sin of desperation, weakness, or ignorance, or an active choice to harm others? Both require repentance and both ask for forgiveness, but one holds a much deeper expectation of atonement and restitution.

As you pray today, be sure to make a confession. And as you look at the ways you have fallen short, notice how often your mistakes are yours and how often they lead to the mistakes of others. Sometimes, a cruel word might be worse than a harmful action. Look at the long-term effects of your choices so that love and justice might prevail in your life and your world.

Prayer: God, help me to bring joy and peace to others so that all might show love and justice in the world. Amen.