CHAPTER SEVEN
Breaking Agreements with Evil
Anytime a person commits a sin, that person is saying no to God’s purpose and plan for his or her life, and yes to some kind of worldly or fleshly desire. Because all sin is a direct violation of God’s law, it becomes an open door for the devil. Once a sin has been committed, demonic spirits will continue their assault in an attempt to get that person to sin again. If the devil can get a person to sin once, he will use the same temptation to get that person to sin again.
Once a pattern of sin has been established, the devil will drive that person further away from God and deeper into bondage. The only way for a person to break free would be to denounce all sinful thoughts, words and actions in the name, power and authority of Jesus. After all sinful agreements have been broken, the next step would be to make a complete act of contrition.
To make a complete act of contrition, it will be necessary to see your sin the same way that God sees your sin. You will need to love God more than you love your sin. For example, if a young man commits the sin of fornication by having sex with his girlfriend, and then goes to confession, but has no intention of changing his behaviors, he has not made a complete act of contrition. What he is actually saying to God is, “I am sorry that your laws are in direct conflict with my behaviors.”
Because the man has not made a complete act of contrition, he will usually fall back into the same sinful pattern. He will have more sex with his girlfriend, and then he will go back to confession. His lifestyle will consist of sinning and confessing, and then sinning some more and confessing some more, until at which point the young man will grow so weary of going to confession, that he will stop going. When this happens, the devil will drive him deeper into bondage and further away from God.
In order for the young man to make a complete act of contrition, he will need to see his sin the same way God sees his sin. He will need to renounce the devil’s lies and renew his mind in Christ. In order for this to occur, the young man may need to stop watching worldly movies and television shows where premarital sex is glorified. He will also need the Holy Spirit’s help to understand how the sin of fornication is harming his relationship with God, and how it may be harming God’s plan for his marriage and future wife.
In order to make a complete act of contrition, it will be helpful to understand why God in his great love for humanity has given us his laws for our well-being and protection. It would also be helpful for the young man to realize how his sin harms other people and what would happen if he got his girlfriend pregnant outside of a God-approved marriage, or what would happen if he contracted a venereal disease, or was infected by the HIV virus and died of AIDS. Once a young man sees his sin the same way God sees his sin, he will be more motivated to change his behaviors, and turn back to the Lord’s loving guidance and protection.
Another example of making a complete act of contrition comes from a thief who stole his neighbor’s bicycle. If the thief were caught on a security video, he would probably say that he was sorry for his actions, but if the thief didn’t want to return the bicycle, then it would not be a complete act of contrition. The thief may be sorry that he was caught, but if he viewed his sin the same way God viewed his sin, then he would want to return the bicycle, because God loves and cares about his neighbor.
It is for this reason that 1 Peter 4:8 says, "Maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins." If the thief were truly sorry and loved his neighbor, he would have never stolen the bicycle in the first place. If the thief spent less time focusing on his own self-centered and selfish desires, and more time performing loving acts of charity for his neighbors, he would be making a complete act of contrition.
According to the Catechism, contrition is defined as the "sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again." Contrition is the most important act of the penitent, and is necessary for the reception of the Sacrament of Penance.1 The Catechism also speaks about our need to repair the harm that our sins have caused other people. For example, we should "return stolen goods, restore the reputation of someone slandered and pay compensation for injuries."2
Because all sin is an open door for demonic attack that leads people deeper into bondage, while at the same time hindering our relationship with God and harming God’s beloved children, it may be helpful to review the following list of sins along with their corresponding Scripture passages. Once you identify any areas of concern, you may want to spend some time in prayer denouncing the sin of __________ in the name, power and authority of Jesus.
After you break all agreements with evil and ask for the Lord’s forgiveness, it will be beneficial to visit the Sacrament of Reconciliation for any venial sins, and necessary to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for any mortal sins. After you make a complete act of contrition, it would also be helpful to spend some time performing loving acts of kindness and charity. By doing so, you will be drawing closer to God, while at the same time, driving evil out of your life and sphere of influence.
Sinful Agreements with Evil |
Scripture & Catechism References |
|
Accepting a bribe |
Exodus 23:8, Psalms 26:9–10 |
|
Acting arrogantly |
Mark 7:22, Romans 1:30, James 4:16 |
|
Adultery |
Exodus 20:14, Matthew 19:18, Catechism of Catholic Church 2380 |
|
Astrology |
Deuteronomy 4:19 & 17:2–5, Acts 7:42–43 |
|
Bearing false witness |
Exodus 20:16, Matthew 15:19 |
|
Being a hypocrite |
Matthew 15:7–9 |
|
Being consumed by fear |
2 Timothy 1:7, 1 John 4:18 |
|
Being angry with others |
Matthew 5:22, Catechism of Catholic Church 2302 |
|
Being ashamed of Jesus |
Mark 8:38, Luke 9:26 |
|
Being associated with evil |
Revelation 18:4–5 |
|
Being deceitful |
Jeremiah 9:5–6, 2 Corinthians 11:13, Romans 1:29 |
|
Being disobedient toward parents |
2 Timothy 3:1–2, Romans 1:30 |
|
Being hateful |
1 John 2:9–11, Titus 3:3, Catechism of Catholic Church 2303 |
|
Being prejudiced |
James 2:1–4 & 9 |
|
Bitterness |
Acts 8:23, Ephesians 4:31, Hebrews 12:15 |
|
Breaking an oath |
Numbers 30:2, Deuteronomy 23:21–23 |
|
Buying or selling spiritual powers |
Acts 8:9–24, Catechism of Catholic Church 2121 |
|
Committing an abortion |
Exodus 21:22, Jeremiah 1:4–5, Catechism of Catholic Church 2270 |
|
Complaining about hardships |
Numbers 11:1, Jude 1:16 |
|
Consumed by the love of money |
Hebrews 13:5, 1 Timothy 6:9–10, James 5:1–3 |
|
Coveting your neighbor’s property |
Exodus 20:17, Catechism of Catholic Church 2539 |
|
Cursing and using profanities |
Psalms 10:7, Romans 3:14, James 3:9 |
|
Denying Jesus as God’s Son |
John 1:1 & 14, John 3:16, 1 John 5:10–12 |
|
Denying Jesus as the Christ |
1 John 2:22, 1 John 5:10, Catechism of Catholic Church 161 |
|
Denying Jesus before others |
Matthew 10:33, 1 John 2:22 |
|
Denying the resurrection of Jesus |
Romans 10:9, Catechism of Catholic Church 14 |
|
Despising authority |
2 Peter 2:10, Jude 1:8 |
|
Despising correction |
Hebrews 12:5 |
|
Disobeying God’s commandments |
1 John 2:3–4, Catechism of Catholic Church 2013 |
|
Distorting the meaning of Scripture |
2 Peter 3:15–16, Galatians 1:6–8, Revelation 22:18 |
|
Divorce & remarriage (with some exceptions) |
Matthew 19:9, Catechism of Catholic Church 2382–2386 |
|
Dressing indecently or immodestly |
1 Timothy 2:9–10, Catechism of Catholic Church 2522 |
|
Dwelling on negative thoughts |
Philippians 4:4–9 |
|
Eating or drinking blood |
Leviticus 3:17, Acts 15:20 |
|
Engaging in senseless controversies |
Proverbs 17:14, Titus 3:9, 2 Timothy 2:23 |
|
Enjoying evil and thinking it’s funny |
Romans 12:9, Psalms 36:4 |
|
Ensnared by worldly ways |
Mark 4:19, Luke 8:14 |
|
Entertaining evil desires |
Colossians 3:5–6 |
|
Enticing others to practice witchcraft |
Deuteronomy 13:6–10, Acts 13:8–12 |
|
Failing to accomplish God’s will |
Matthew 7:21–27 |
|
Failing to acknowledge guilt |
Jeremiah 3:13, Catechism of Catholic Church 1849–1850 |
|
Failing to admit that you’re a sinner |
1 John 1:8–10, Catechism of Catholic Church 827 |
|
Failing to attend church |
Hebrews 10:25, Ecclesiastes 4:9–10, Catechism of Catholic Church 2180 |
|
Failing to attend confession |
1 John 1:9, James 5:16, Catechism of Catholic Church 1457 |
|
Failing to do the right thing |
James 4:17 |
|
Failing to give God praise |
Ephesians 5:19–20, Colossians 3:17 |
|
Failing to give God the glory |
Luke 17:17–18, Romans 1:21 |
|
Failing to honor your father and mother |
Exodus 20:12, Matthew 19:19 |
|
Failing to seek first the kingdom of God |
2 Chronicles 7:14, Matthew 6:33 |
|
Failing to submit and serve the Lord |
Luke 19:11–27, James 4:13–16, Ephesians 2:10 |
|
Failing to teach God’s Word to your children |
Deuteronomy 6:5–7 |
|
Failing to worship God in spirit and truth |
John 4:24 |
|
Filthy conversations |
Colossians 3:8, 1 Peter 2:1 |
|
Following desires of the flesh |
Romans 8:5–8, Galatians 5:16–24, Ephesians 2:3 |
|
Foolish conversations |
Matthew 12:36, Ephesians 5:4 |
|
Fornication or premarital sex |
Mark 7:21, 1 Thessalonians 4:1–8, Catechism of Catholic Church 2353 |
|
Fortune-telling |
Deuteronomy 18:10–12, Acts 16:16–18 |
|
Getting drunk |
Proverbs 20:1, Romans 13:13, 1 Corinthians 6:10 |
|
Getting entangled in worldly ways |
2 Timothy 2:4, James 4:4 |
|
Getting involved in senseless controversies |
2 Timothy 2:23, Titus 3:9 |
|
Gluttony and overeating |
Proverbs 23:20–21, Philippians 3:19 |
|
Gossip and spreading lies |
Romans 1:29, 1 Timothy 5:13 |
|
Greed and selfishness |
Luke 12:15, Ephesians 4:19, Colossians 3:5–6 |
|
Hardness of heart |
Hebrews 3:8 & 15, Ephesians 4:18 |
|
Harming another person’s reputation |
Psalms 101:5, Mark 7:20–23, Catechism of Catholic Church 2477 |
|
Hating your neighbors |
Proverbs 14:21, Luke 18:9 |
|
Holding a grudge |
Colossians 3:12–13 |
|
Homosexuality |
Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:24–28, Catechism of Catholic Church 2357 |
|
Husband who does not honor his wife |
1 Peter 3:7, Ephesians 5:25–33 |
|
Idolatry |
Ezekiel 16:1–42, 1 John 5:21, 1 Corinthians 10:20 |
|
Inviting cult members into your home |
2 John 1:10–11 |
|
Kidnapping |
Exodus 21:16 |
|
Lack of compassion |
1 Peter 3:8 |
|
Lack of forgiveness |
Matthew 6:14–15, Mark 11:25–26, Luke 17:4 |
|
Lack of love for others |
1 Corinthians 13:1–7 |
|
Laziness |
Proverbs 6:6–11, 2 Thessalonians 3:10–13 |
|
Letting the sun go down on your anger |
Ephesians 4:26–27, Catechism of Catholic Church 2302 |
|
Living for pleasure |
1 Timothy 5:6, James 5:5, Titus 3:3 |
|
Living for worldly and fleshly desires |
Romans 8:6–8, Romans 13:14 |
|
Loving pleasure more than God |
2 Timothy 3:4 |
|
Loving the ways of the world |
1 John 2:15–17 |
|
Lukewarm for Jesus |
Revelation 3:15–16 |
|
Lust |
Matthew 5:27–30, Colossians 3:5–6, Catechism of Catholic Church 2351 |
|
Masturbation |
Romans 13:14, Galatians 5:16, Catechism of Catholic Church 2352 |
|
Murder |
Exodus 20:13, Matthew 19:18, Catechism of Catholic Church 2268 |
|
Neglecting the poor |
Ezekiel 16:49, Matthew 25:31–46 |
|
Not being content with what you have |
Hebrews 13:5 |
|
Not keeping the Sabbath’s day rest |
Exodus 20:8–11, Catechism of Catholic Church 2185 |
|
Not living by faith |
Hebrews 11:6, Romans 14:22–23, Catechism of Catholic Church 2087 |
|
Not loving God with all your heart |
Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:37 |
|
Not obeying governing laws |
Romans 13:1–2, 1 Peter 2:13–14 |
|
Not paying taxes |
Luke 20:25, Romans 13:6–7 |
|
Not producing good fruit |
Matthew 3:10, Luke 13:6–9 |
|
Participating in evil |
1 Thessalonians 5:22 |
|
Pornography |
Matthew 5:28, James 1:14–15, Catechism of Catholic Church 2354 |
|
Pride |
Proverbs 16:18, Luke 18:9–14, James 4:6 |
|
Promoting strife |
Proverbs 16:28 |
|
Provoking your children to anger |
Ephesians 6:4, Catechism of Catholic Church 2223 |
|
Reading New Age and metaphysical books |
Colossians 2:8 |
|
Receiving communion in unworthy manner |
1 Corinthians 11:27–30, Catechism of Catholic Church 1385 |
|
Reciting meaningless prayers to God |
Matthew 6:7–8, Catechism of Catholic Church 2608 |
|
Refusing to be baptized |
Luke 7:30, John 3:5, Catechism of Catholic Church 1257 |
|
Refusing to pray for your enemies |
Matthew 5:43–44, Luke 6:27–28 |
|
Refusing to repent |
Matthew 4:17, Luke 13:3–5, Acts 2:38 |
|
Rejecting God’s calling |
Matthew 22:1–14, Acts 7:51 |
|
Rejecting the Lord’s teachings |
John 12:48–49 |
|
Rejecting the Word of God |
1 Samuel 15:23, Jeremiah 8:9, Catechism of Catholic Church 105 |
|
Resisting God’s discipline |
Hebrews 12:7–8 |
|
Resisting the Holy Spirit |
Acts 7:51 |
|
Seeking after false teachers |
Matthew 24:24, 2 Timothy 4:3–4 |
|
Seeking signs and wonders |
Matthew 16:4, Luke 11:29 |
|
Selfish ambitions |
Philippians 2:21, James 3:16 |
|
Sex outside of God-approved marriage |
1 Corinthians 6:15–20, Ephesians 5:3, Catechism of Catholic Church 2390 |
|
Smoking |
Romans 13:14, 1 Peter 1:15, Catechism of Catholic Church 2290 |
|
Sowing discord within a family |
Proverbs 6:16 & 19 |
|
Speaking bombastic nonsense |
2 Peter 2:18 |
|
Spreading false information |
Exodus 23:1, Catechism of Catholic Church 2477–2485 |
|
Stealing |
Exodus 20:15, Mark 7:21–23, Catechism of Catholic Church 2408 |
|
Swollen with conceit |
1 Timothy 3:6, 2 Timothy 3:2–4 |
|
Taking the Lord’s name in vain |
Exodus 20:7 |
|
Talking too much |
James 1:19, 1 Timothy 5:13 |
|
Tattooing marks on your body |
Leviticus 19:28 |
|
Teaching demonic doctrines |
1 Timothy 1:3–4, 4:1 |
|
Telling lies |
John 8:44, Revelation 21:8, Catechism of Catholic Church 2483 |
|
Watching immorality on television |
Psalms 101:3–4, Catechism of Catholic Church 1809 |
|
Wearing transgender clothing |
Deuteronomy 22:5 |
|
Witchcraft |
Deuteronomy 18:10–13, Exodus 22:18, Galatians 5:20 |
|
Withholding tithes and offerings from God |
Leviticus 27:30, Malachi 3:8–10 |
|
Worrying about everything |
Philippians 4:6 |
|
Worshiping angels instead of God |
Colossians 2:18–19, Revelation 22:8–9 |
|
Worshiping false gods |
Exodus 20:3, Psalms 81:9, Catechism of Catholic Church 2113 |
|
Worshiping graven images |
Exodus 20:4–6 & 32:7–8, Deuteronomy 7:25–26 |
Notes
Excerpts from the second edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for the United States of America, copyright © 1994, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.—Libreria Editrice Vaticana. English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Modifications from the Editio Typica copyright © 1997, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.—Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
1. Catechism of the Catholic Church: 1451, Council of Trent (1551): DS 1676 & p. 872.
2. Catechism of the Catholic Church: 1459.