Sign up to access the complete lesson and track your progress!
Unlock This CourseIn Sin and Crime: What Is the Difference? you learned that a sin is an act against the will of God and a crime is breaking the law of the land. This lesson looks at how Christians use that idea to think about crime, and what they do to reduce it. For the Fall and the nature of sin, see Sin and Human Wrongdoing: Christian Teaching.
Key terms:
Some things Christians call sins are not against the law in the UK. Jesus taught that greed and hatred of others are wrong (Luke 12:15; Matthew 5:21-22), yet nobody is arrested for feeling them. Adultery is another example: Christians see it as breaking a promise made before God, but it is not a crime.
Some laws are only about keeping society running, such as a rule about where you may park. Breaking such a rule is a crime, but many Christians would not call it a serious sin against God. Some Christians also say that breaking an unjust law, such as one that forbids people from practising their faith, is not a sin.
So the two circles overlap but are not the same. Murder and theft are both, because they break the law and the commandments (Exodus 20:13, 15).
Christians believe that governments have a job to do. Paul, an early Christian leader who wrote many New Testament letters, wrote: "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established" (Romans 13:1). Most Christians therefore believe they have a duty to obey the law, because laws keep people safe and help create a peaceful society.
But Christians also believe God's law comes first. In Acts 5:29 Jesus' first followers, the apostles, said, "We must obey God rather than human beings." So Christians would break a law only if it clearly conflicts with God's law, for example one that forced them to deny their faith or to harm innocent people. Most would accept the punishment.
Catholics divide sins into two kinds. A mortal sin is a serious wrong, done with full knowledge that it is wrong and with real choice. Catholics believe it breaks a person's friendship with God until they repent (are truly sorry and decide to change) and receive forgiveness, especially through confession, telling their sins to a priest in a sacred ritual called a sacrament. A venial sin is a smaller wrong, or one done without full knowledge or choice. It hurts a person's relationship with God without breaking it, and can be forgiven through prayer and being sorry. These labels are mainly Catholic. Other churches, such as most Protestant churches, use different language, but they still agree that some sins are more serious than others in their effects.
Crime harms victims, families and communities. Christians believe every person is made in God's image and can change, so they ask why crime happens and try to deal with the causes.
People who cannot afford food or housing may steal. The Bible warns against ignoring the poor (Proverbs 14:31).
Unfair laws or bad government, such as too few jobs or homes, can push people towards crime.
Being treated unfairly because of race can lead to anger, exclusion and being treated unequally by society.
Addiction can lead people to steal to pay for drugs, and drugs can lead to violence.
Children who grow up with neglect, violence or no good role models may copy what they see.
People who feel worthless may not care what happens to them or to others.
Christians say that Jesus did not only teach, he acted. He said that when you visit someone in prison, you are serving him (Matthew 25:36). Many Christians therefore feel called to help prisoners, victims and people at risk of crime. Individual Christians help by volunteering or giving money, and Christian groups do too, including Prison Fellowship and Street Pastors. Their own websites give the latest details.
Prison Fellowship is a Christian charity whose volunteers support prisoners and their families. In England and Wales its programmes include:
The programmes are open to people whatever they believe. Why do they do it? Christians believe in forgiveness and a second chance (Luke 23:34 shows Jesus forgiving even those who crucified him). They also hope that helping prisoners and their families to change will break the cycle of crime caused by poor upbringing and low self-esteem.
Street Pastors began in Brixton, London, in 2003. Trained volunteers from local churches walk the streets of towns and cities late at night, when drink and drugs often lead to trouble. They listen, offer water, give out flip-flops to people struggling in painful shoes, clear away broken glass and help people get home safely. Why do they do it? They believe in loving their neighbour (Mark 12:31), caring for people in need, and making communities safer, which helps prevent crime linked to drugs and drink before it happens.
Paper 1, Peace and Conflict.
(a) Identify three possible causes of crime. [3 marks] (AO1)
(b) Choose one religion. Outline two ways in which Christians try to end the causes of crime. [4 marks] (AO1)
(c) Choose one religion. Explain why not every sin is a crime in this religion. [6 marks] (AO1, AO2)
(d) "Christians should always obey the law of the land." Evaluate this statement, showing you have considered different points of view. In your answer you should refer to at least one religion. [12 marks] (AO1, AO2)
(a) 1. Poverty (1) 2. Drugs (1) 3. Upbringing (1)
(b) Christianity. Prison Fellowship volunteers support prisoners and their families (1), for example by sending Christmas gifts to prisoners' children through Angel Tree, which helps keep families together and so reduces reoffending (1). Street Pastors are church volunteers who care for people on the streets at night (1), for example by giving water and helping drunk people get home safely, which prevents trouble before it starts (1).
(c) Christians believe that sin is any act against the will of God, which includes thoughts and attitudes. Jesus taught that anger and greed are wrong (Matthew 5:21-22; Luke 12:15), so Christians say these are sins even though no law punishes them. Adultery is also seen as a sin because it breaks a promise made before God, but it is not a crime in the UK. The law only deals with actions that harm society and can be proved, whereas sin is about a person's relationship with God, so many sins cannot be crimes. (Level 2: correct teachings used to explain why.)
(d) Plan. For: Paul teaches that governing authorities are established by God (Romans 13:1); laws keep people safe and help create a peaceful society. Against: Jesus' first followers, the apostles, said, "We must obey God rather than human beings" (Acts 5:29), so Christians may disobey a law that conflicts with God's law; some Christians believe unjust laws, such as ones that deny people their rights, should be challenged; non-religious people may argue that laws should be obeyed only if they are fair, or because of an agreement between people in society, not because of God. Conclusion (one possible): Christians should obey nearly all laws because of Romans 13:1, but "always" is too strong, because God's law comes first when the two clearly conflict.
In (b), name the organisation, say what it does and add a short reason or effect. That gives the point and the development, which is how the two marks for each way are earned.