It's all over my news feed. Articles, commentaries, blogs and videos were being published in full blast with the recent ruling in the US that approved "same-sex marriage". If I was still in my "old self", you can easily predict how I would react--condemn the sinner and post guilt trips on social media. But having been transformed by Christ (through his death and saving grace) and maintaining a relationship with him changed my mindset and heart to love one another as I have been a consistent recipient of God's unending grace and love everyday made my stand on this issue to -- "Love the sinner; hate the sin."
I couldn't find any exact biblical reference to this saying. But there is one verse in Jude 1:22-23 that could relate to this idea. It says: "Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” This could mean that our view should be characterized by mercy for the sinner and a healthy hatred of sin and its effects.
Christ died for our sins. It's with ardent desire to feel compassion on sinners for whom Christ died, and keeping ourselves from being polluted by the world as well. I'm not saying that I am perfect, it's only through God's grace that gives the conviction to say no to sin. Also, as a limited human being, we cannot love perfectly, nor hate perfectly (without malice). Only God can do both of this perfectly; he can hate the sin and the sinner in a perfectly holy way and still lovingly forgive at the time of repentance and faith. This is kinda mysterious isn't it? God can perfectly love and hate a person at the same time? How could this happen? The bible clearly states this fact in 1 John 4:8-9 which says, "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him." This means that He loves us as someone he created and redeemed, and he also hates us for our unbelief and sinful lifestyle. Being imperfect human beings, we cannot do this but the least we could remind ourselves is to "love the sinner; hate the sin."
Still confused, eh? This simply means we are to hate sin by identifying it, declining to take part in it, and condemning it because it's contrary to God's nature. We should not excuse sin or take it lightly but it should be hated. On the other hand, we have to love sinners. I can think of three ways to do this. First is show them respect as stated in 1 Peter 2:17 which says, "Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor." Second is we pray for them ("First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people." 1 Timothy 2:1). And last and most important is witnessing to them of Christ--sharing our heartfelt faith in Christ and what he had personally done that changed our lives. (No exchange of intellect and debate here.)
It is indeed an act of love to treat someone with respect and kindness even though you do not approve of his or her lifestyle or sinful choices. And it is not a loving act to allow a person to remain stuck in sin. It's not a hateful act to tell a person that he or she is in sin. The exact opposites are true. Sin leads to death ("Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and when it is fully grown brings forth death"-James 1:15), and we love the sinner by speaking the truth in love ("Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ."-Ephesians 4:15).
Monday, June 29, 2015
Thursday, June 25, 2015
My Greatest Fear
When I was a pre-schooler, my greatest fear was to be away from my parents especially my mother. But when I was sent to stay in my grandparent's house to study elementary, which is an hour drive from our home from the city, I was able to overcome that fear.
When I graduated from high-school, I again faced another greatest fear in my life because it was unplanned that I'll study college in Manila, very far away from my family and without any friends in the new school environment. But that fear vanished when I was able to adjust to Manila-life for a couple of years and gained some true friends who helped me coped up with the difficulties and challenges.
The next greatest fear that posed when I was an adult is to bear a child. I'm afraid of needles, I was never hospitalized, my threshold of pain is very low and I really couldn't imagine myself carrying a baby in my womb for 9 months. And the process of how the child would be delivered normally or via cesarean birth is truly an unbearable sight and thought for me. But then again, when I gave birth to our two daughters, I was able to successfully conquer my greatest fear twice.
As the saying goes, "What does not kill you makes you stronger.", I thought I now can face whatever fearful incidents that will come my way. That was my mindset when I was living a "self-centered", 'self-directed", "self-seeking" and "egotistic" life. I may struggle to face my fears but with my own wit and capacity, I'm confident that I can conquer it.
When I surrendered my life to Jesus and accepted him as my personal savior, my true being, as what the creator has designed me for, was exposed right to my very eye. Jesus is the vine and I am the branch, apart from him I can do nothing nor I bear much fruit (John 15:5). I will be useless as soon as all the material things, fortune and credentials no longer buy me peace of mind, happiness, contentment and most of all, my salvation. These things just feed the monster of "greatest fears". Yes, before living a Christ-centered life, I'm afraid of losing my job, the identity I carry in the corporate world, my sources of income, my husband, my children and all the material things I possess. I know about the story of Job in the bible, I just admired him and I don't want to be like him. That was my old self.
Being transformed by Christ, I thought I am now living a fearless life. God has full of promises in the scriptures, and being a faithful God, I know he would never forsake me and that I could totally place my whole life under his sovereign care. Not until I learned about his nature in Exodus 33:1-4 on the first day of our church's Mid-year Prayer and Fasting.
1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ 2 I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.” 4 When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments.
God promised the Israelites an angel drive out their enemies. He promised them blessings and favor by letting them enter the promised land, flowing with milk and honey. But the scariest part is, God will leave them, they'll not have his presence.
Never in my life I came face to face with a realistic and very serious fear, that made my knees weak and my heart bleed of its thought. I FEAR GOD WILL LEAVE ME.
God might leave me because...
- I am very focused on my petitions and prayer requests
- I preferred to pursue after the blessings and gifts
- I am so occupied equipping myself with God's word
- I became too busy with my ministry and discipling our kids through homeschooling
that I neglect to nurture and didn't remain steadfastly in fellowship with God.
When the Holy Spirit sent me this message, I cried so hard, like a girl whose boyfriend just broke up with her, or a wife permanently left by her husband or a mother who lost a child. Deep in my heart I cried, "Take everything I have that hinders my relationship with you but never leave me, my God! For I am just a useless speck of dust without you. I need you in my life!"
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. (Psalm 42:1)
How about you, what's your greatest fear?
When I graduated from high-school, I again faced another greatest fear in my life because it was unplanned that I'll study college in Manila, very far away from my family and without any friends in the new school environment. But that fear vanished when I was able to adjust to Manila-life for a couple of years and gained some true friends who helped me coped up with the difficulties and challenges.
The next greatest fear that posed when I was an adult is to bear a child. I'm afraid of needles, I was never hospitalized, my threshold of pain is very low and I really couldn't imagine myself carrying a baby in my womb for 9 months. And the process of how the child would be delivered normally or via cesarean birth is truly an unbearable sight and thought for me. But then again, when I gave birth to our two daughters, I was able to successfully conquer my greatest fear twice.
As the saying goes, "What does not kill you makes you stronger.", I thought I now can face whatever fearful incidents that will come my way. That was my mindset when I was living a "self-centered", 'self-directed", "self-seeking" and "egotistic" life. I may struggle to face my fears but with my own wit and capacity, I'm confident that I can conquer it.
When I surrendered my life to Jesus and accepted him as my personal savior, my true being, as what the creator has designed me for, was exposed right to my very eye. Jesus is the vine and I am the branch, apart from him I can do nothing nor I bear much fruit (John 15:5). I will be useless as soon as all the material things, fortune and credentials no longer buy me peace of mind, happiness, contentment and most of all, my salvation. These things just feed the monster of "greatest fears". Yes, before living a Christ-centered life, I'm afraid of losing my job, the identity I carry in the corporate world, my sources of income, my husband, my children and all the material things I possess. I know about the story of Job in the bible, I just admired him and I don't want to be like him. That was my old self.
Being transformed by Christ, I thought I am now living a fearless life. God has full of promises in the scriptures, and being a faithful God, I know he would never forsake me and that I could totally place my whole life under his sovereign care. Not until I learned about his nature in Exodus 33:1-4 on the first day of our church's Mid-year Prayer and Fasting.
1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ 2 I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.” 4 When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments.
God promised the Israelites an angel drive out their enemies. He promised them blessings and favor by letting them enter the promised land, flowing with milk and honey. But the scariest part is, God will leave them, they'll not have his presence.
Never in my life I came face to face with a realistic and very serious fear, that made my knees weak and my heart bleed of its thought. I FEAR GOD WILL LEAVE ME.
God might leave me because...
- I am very focused on my petitions and prayer requests
- I preferred to pursue after the blessings and gifts
- I am so occupied equipping myself with God's word
- I became too busy with my ministry and discipling our kids through homeschooling
that I neglect to nurture and didn't remain steadfastly in fellowship with God.
When the Holy Spirit sent me this message, I cried so hard, like a girl whose boyfriend just broke up with her, or a wife permanently left by her husband or a mother who lost a child. Deep in my heart I cried, "Take everything I have that hinders my relationship with you but never leave me, my God! For I am just a useless speck of dust without you. I need you in my life!"
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. (Psalm 42:1)
How about you, what's your greatest fear?
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