CHAPTER XXI
PROBLEMS OF CASUISTRY
78. What sins are trivial and what are grave, however, is not for
human but for divine judgment to determine. For we see that, in
respect of some sins, even the apostle, by pardoning them, has
conceded this point. Such a case is seen in what the venerable Paul
says to married folks: "Do not deprive one another, except by consent
for a time to give yourselves to prayer, and then return together lest
Satan tempt you at the point of self-control."172 One could consider
that it is not a sin for a married couple to have intercourse, not
only for the sake of procreating children--which is the good of
marriage--but also for the sake of the carnal pleasure involved. Thus,
those whose self-control is weak could avoid fornication, or adultery,
and other kinds of impurity too shameful to name, into which their
lust might drag them through Satan's tempting. Therefore one could, as
I said, consider this not a sin, had the apostle not added, "But I say
this as a concession, not as a rule." Who, then, denies that it is a
sin when he agrees that apostolic authority for doing it is given only
by "concession"?
Another such case is seen where he says, "Dare any of you, having a
case against another, bring it to be judged before the unrighteous and
not the saints?"173 And a bit later: "If, therefore, you have cases
concerning worldly things," he says, "you appoint those who are
contemptible in the Church's eyes. I say this to shame you. Can it be
that there is not a wise man among you, who could judge between his
brethren? But brother goes to law with brother, and that in the
presence of unbelievers."174 And here it might be thought that it was
not a sin to bring suit against a brother, and that the only sin
consisted in wishing it judged outside the Church, if the apostle had
not added immediately, "Now therefore the whole fault among you is
that you have lawsuits with one another."175 Then, lest someone
excuse himself on this point by saying that he had a just cause and
was suffering injustice which he wished removed by judicial sentence,
the apostle directly resists such thoughts and excuses by saying: "Why
not rather suffer iniquity? Why not rather be defrauded?"176 Thus we
are brought back to that saying of the Lord: "If anyone would take
your tunic and contend in court with you, let go your cloak also."177
And in another place: "If a man takes away your goods, seek them not
back."178 Thus, he forbids his own to go to court with other men in
secular suits. And it is because of this teaching that the apostle
says that this kind of action is "a fault." Still, when he allows such
suits to be decided in the Church, brothers judging brothers, yet
sternly forbids such a thing outside the Church, it is clear that some
concession is being made here for the infirmities of the weak.
Because of these and similar sins--and of others even less than these,
such as offenses in words and thoughts--and because, as the apostle
James confesses, "we all offend in many things,"179 it behooves us to
pray to the Lord daily and often, and say, "Forgive us our debts," and
not lie about what follows this petition, "As we also forgive our
debtors."
79. There are, however, some sins that could be deemed quite trifling
if the Scriptures did not show that they are more serious than we
think. For who would suppose that one saying to his brother, "You
fool," is "in danger of hell-fire," if the Truth had not said it?
Still, for the hurt he immediately supplied a medicine, adding the
precept of brotherly reconciliation: "If, therefore, you are offering
a gift at the altar, and remember there that your brother has
something against you,"180 etc.
Or who would think how great a sin it is to observe days and months
and years and seasons--as those people do who will or will not begin
projects on certain days or in certain months or years, because they
follow vain human doctrines and suppose that various seasons are lucky
or unlucky--if we did not infer the magnitude of this evil from the
apostle's fear, in saying to such men, "I fear for you, lest perhaps I
have labored among you in vain"181 ?
80. To this one might add those sins, however grave and terrible,
which, when they come to be habitual, are then believed to be trivial
or no sins at all. And so far does this go that such sins are not only
not kept secret, but are even proclaimed and published abroad--cases
of which it is written, "The sinner is praised in the desires of his
soul; and he that works iniquity is blessed."182
In the divine books such iniquity is called a "cry" (clamor). You have
such a usage in the prophet Isaiah's reference to the evil vineyard:
"I looked that he should perform justice, yet he did iniquity; not
justice but a cry."183 So also is that passage in Genesis: "The cry
of Sodom and Gomorrah is multiplied,"184 for among these people such
crimes were not only unpunished, but were openly committed, as if
sanctioned by law.
So also in our times so many evils, even if not like those [of old],
have come to be public customs that we not only do not dare
excommunicate a layman; we do not dare degrade a clergyman for them.
Thus, several years ago, when I was expounding the Epistle to the
Galatians, where the apostle says, "I fear for you, lest perchance I
have labored in vain among you," I was moved to exclaim: "Woe to the
sins of men! We shrink from them only when we are not accustomed to
them. As for those sins to which we are accustomed--although the blood
of the Son of God was shed to wash them away--although they are so
great that the Kingdom of God is wholly closed to them, yet, living
with them often we come to tolerate them, and, tolerating them, we
even practice some of them! But grant, O Lord, that we do not practice
any of them which we could prohibit!" I shall someday know whether
immoderate indignation moved me here to speak rashly.
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172 I Cor. 7:5 (mixed text).
173 I Cor. 6:1.
174 I Cor. 6:4-6.
175 I Cor. 6:7a.
176 I Cor. 6:7b.
177 Matt. 5:40.
178 Luke 6:30.
179 James 3:2 (Vulgate).
180 Matt. 5:22, 23.
181 Gal. 4:11 (Vulgate).
182 Ps. 10:3 (Vulgate).
183 Isa. 5:7 (LXX).
184 Gen. 18:20 (Vulgate with one change).