LOVE THE SINNER, HATE THE SIN

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).