In fact, we love to minimize our sin and guilt and misery. One time he asked the little children what person they loved most. Well, sometimes I steal from the cookie jar. In fact, it sounds rather harmless and innocent. And, that's how most people today understand sin.
Sin is like stealing from the cookie jar.
The cookie jar is different for a 6 year old than it is for a 16 year old, and when people are 46 years old they may get their fingers in yet another cookie jar. The Christian understanding of sin goes deeper, much deeper than this. Sin is our inability to love God and neighbor. Sin is not merely that we do bad things and think dirty thoughts and make mistakes and are not perfect. Sin, when it comes right down to it, is a lack of love.