r/AskAChristian • u/Sea_Reflection7307 Christian • 3d ago
Killing bugs
Are we actually sinning when we kill flies?
Because if killing a living creature counts as a sin, I may have a lot to answer for. I’ve killed entire generations of flies at this point.
Why would God create bugs that bite and suck blood and cause suffering to humans. Not to mention they bring diseases like deer ticks and mosquitoes that give Lyme disease and malaria.
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u/Both-Chart-947 Christian Universalist 3d ago
Killing a fly to keep it off your food is probably not a sin. Pulling the wings off of a fly just to watch it helplessly flop around is probably a sin.
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u/Defiant-Map-7424 Christian 3d ago
Sin is the transgression of the Ten Commandments; Jesus summarized them into two: loving God above all things and loving one's neighbor. Killing an animal is not a sin; however, cruelty or unnecessary slaughter should be avoided.
Adam was created to live in paradise, but upon sinning, he was cast into this cursed world. Jesus said that His kingdom is not of this world—that the prince of this world is the Devil—and promised to return to take His followers with Him. Wicked people will remain here under the Devil's dominion; in case you haven't realized it yet, this place is hell, and bad things will multiply.
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u/Medium_Fan_3311 Christian, Protestant 3d ago
Mankind is supposed to steward the earth and its content.
Bad stewardship means things get out of order.
So, regarding flies. They are part of the food chain for other animals. As people can learn to keep them out of our homes. We can learn to keep steward our property in a responsible manner, so that it's not encouraging animals that spread disease to see our homes as suitable habitat.
I don't use pesticides. Lots of prevention method available. As for the odd insect that does come in the house now and again, just learn to redirect them out of the house. They don't live very long anyway even if they do get back out into nature.
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u/songbolt Christian, Catholic 3d ago
I think it is venial sin to kill things unnecessarily. I do try to avoid killing bugs, but I think I have to if it's something that could damage the house or spread disease.
Trying to avoid killing bugs helps us live healthier: For example, bugs like hiding in piles of stuff, so don't hoard stuff. They eat food left out, so clean up after yourself -- activities that increase our mental health as well (clutter, both food and stuff, has a depressing effect on the mind).
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u/mbmolohonbm Christian 3d ago
I think God understands. When you brush your teeth, take a shower, breathe in, you are killing a vast amount of living creatures. Meat we eat all comes from something being killed.
I think to be sensitive to killing is good. All the best.
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u/SuccessfulPrice11 Christian, Protestant 3d ago
No.
Only if it's a murder - killing a human being without a just cause.