Good guess. That would be one criterion, but not the only. That would be the difference between a "crime" -- which I feel the laws of the land can and should control, vs. a sin that is not otherwise a crime, and should therefore not be legislated. If we're ranking sins as a level of "badness," I'm not sure that's always the same gauge. I think being a drug addict (and any kind of drug that destroys the body, the temple of the Lord), is worse than driving over the speed limit, insofar as how it hurts God, yet one is clearly a "victimless crime," while the other is more in the realm of "laws of the state."
This is where the phrase "consenting adult" is really important. I'm not sure how familiar you are with the homosexual population. It is not uncommon for an older gay man to "groom" a younger gay man. This is called "chicken hawk," and this would probably fit in what you're talking about. The younger man may not be "fully" gay -- he might actually be just confused or dealing with some issues, and the attraction to his own gender is one way that those injuries are manifesting themselves in him at that time in his life. When the older gay man takes him under his wing, so to speak, yes, there' a certain ... I don't know, sliminess there that I do not like. Even if the younger man is over 18, over the legal age of consent, there's still something there that smells like a rat.
However, I have known a few gay couples who I just don't see how their relationship can be labeled as sinful. Apart from the actual act of sex, they are truly wonderful with each other and for each other: loving, supportive -- more loyal and faithful than most straight couples I know! And really, what they do in the bedroom is none of my business (I'm not into porn, so I don't care to think about such things, thank you very much).
Maybe what they do in the bedroom is sin. If they ever invite me over to watch, I would say no, so I would never be in the position to judge whether what they do is sin. What I see is two people who love each other very much and would die to protect the other. How is that sinful? They know where I stand and I know where they stand. I leave the judging to God, and I tell them about Jesus every chance I get. I'll keep doing so, and let God do his part. I'm not going to do God's job: God gave me a task, and that's what I do.
But I digress.
So here are your "mac daddy" sins, taken from those two scripture passages you listed. I have divided them into three groups.
Group 1: sins that I think we all agree on what they mean, and warrant no further discussion:
fornication
idolatry
adultery
stealing
murder
drunkenness
extortion
heresy
Group 2: These are things that I agree are sin, but are you sure you want to put them on the same level as murder with the above sins?
uncleanliness
envy
coveting
variance
hatred
reviling
wrath
revelling
Dang. If having a messy house is as bad as murder, I'm totally doomed. And excuse me, but almost every time I go to church it's a bit of a "revel-fest" for me ... I enjoy worship, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that! I certainly don't consider enjoying worship (or any other activity) worthy of damnation!
Group 3: These are things which I think we need to consider the Greek word that Paul uses, and check the definition, because the English translation may or may not be completely accurate.
Witchcraft -- As you said, this word basically means "medication." In Paul's day, any medication would be seen as witchcraft. A diabetic person taking insulin would be seen as total blasphemy. I don't think that such practice is evil. I think Paul is showing a cultural bias here, a healthy distrust of quacks (which is what almost any healer but Jesus was back then ... they just didn't have the medical knowledge they have today). Is it a sin to trust medical doctors? I don't think so. I believe that God gave us doctors and nurses. I think we can trust them too much, rely on "worldly medicine" to the exclusion of prayer, and that is a problem. But I think God uses medication to answer our prayers sometimes.
Lasciviousness
Being effeminate
Abuse of oneselves with mankind
Emulation
strife
sedition
"and such like"
On all of these, I'm going to have to take a look at my Greek, and do some study to see what the root word was. I'm running short on time (I'm pretty sure chatting on the computer instead of doing work you've contracted to do is a sin!) so I'll get back to you later today or tomorrow.
LOL, I think if we met IRL, we might actually get along
Thanks for the like-kindness.
In Christ!
Even if homosexual couples are fully grown consenting adults who are very aware of what they are getting into, they are still hurting each other because they are causing each other to sin. Plus, I dont see how you cant see a gay couple as being sinful outside of the sexual act...the act is a big deal and cant be over looked (not saying you are doing that). I dont know too many homosexual couples who dont plan on including the sexual act. Its not any of my business what people do in their bedrooms but it is Gods business and he says its wrong and I dont think we should hide that fact. At the same time I dont go around pointing out everyone's individual sins either. I dont walk up to someone who is over weight and start harping on them about being a glutton, but I wont try and hide the fact that its wrong either.
I do believe that we condone and overlook sins in our society that are sociably acceptable. I was thinking about caffeine addiction yesterday and I came to the conclusion that it is a drug addiction. We dont think of it like that because its sociably acceptable, but even smoking cigarettes is drug addiction because people are addicted to the nicotine. Paul said ...1Co 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient:
all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
"Witchcraft -- As you said, this word basically means "medication." In Paul's day, any medication would be seen as witchcraft. A diabetic person taking insulin would be seen as total blasphemy. I don't think that such practice is evil. I think Paul is showing a cultural bias here, a healthy distrust of quacks (which is what almost any healer but Jesus was back then ... they just didn't have the medical knowledge they have today). Is it a sin to trust medical doctors? I don't think so. I believe that God gave us doctors and nurses. I think we can trust them too much, rely on "worldly medicine" to the exclusion of prayer, and that is a problem. But I think God uses medication to answer our prayers sometimes."
I dont believe Paul had any problem with people using medicine for medical purposes, only people who abused drugs. There was a problem with people taking "medication" a.k.a "drugs" when they would worship their gods. Paul told timothy to take a "little" wine for the sake of his stomach and frequent infirmities.
1Ti 5:23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.
Plus, Jesus used being a doctor as a metaphor of himself
Luk 5:31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
Luke himself was a medical doctor, and I get the feeling that the women in the below verse probably was given medicine or at least I would imagine.
Luk 8:43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,
"Group 2: These are things that I agree are sin, but are you sure you want to put them on the same level as murder with the above sins?
uncleanliness
envy
coveting
variance
hatred
reviling
wrath
revelling
Dang. If having a messy house is as bad as murder, I'm totally doomed. And excuse me, but almost every time I go to church it's a bit of a "revel-fest" for me ... I enjoy worship, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that! I certainly don't consider enjoying worship (or any other activity) worthy of damnation!"
I mean Paul put them in the same category as murder didn't he? How can I argue with him? It says if you practice those things you wont inherit the kingdom of God. I dont know if an unclean house is what Paul means by "uncleanliness". I think he means morally unclean, but who in the world wants to "habitually" live in an unclean house anyway though
.....And you know revelling is meant in a negative sense and not in the sense of worship.
The point is, we shouldnt be habitually committing any type of sin. The subject at hand is preachers, and I think we have to hold them to a higher standard. Like I have already said a few times before, I believe you can struggle with homosexuality and still be a preacher...you just cant embrace that life style. David committed adultery and murdered someone but I still read the psalms (which he wrote many of). David however, repented and didn't habitually continue to do these things.
Here are some verses that tell us what is required of a elders, bishops, deacons and so forth.
Tit 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
Tit 1:6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
Tit 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
Tit 1:8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
Tit 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
1Ti 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1Ti 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
1Ti 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
1Ti 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
1Ti 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
1Ti 3:8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
1Ti 3:9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
1Ti 3:10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
1Ti 3:11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
1Ti 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
1Ti 3:13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.