Sunday, April 21, 2013
"Hate the sin; love the sinner." What does this phrase really mean? We throw it around in Christian circles a lot, but is it something we really believe and live? It wasn't until recently that I've had to struggle with the balance of hate for someone's actions and love for them as a person, and until that moment, I had no idea how far stretching this concept really goes. In light of recent national events, I think that it is an important reminder that needs to be shared, first of what great love we have been shown and then of what love we should show those around us.
There are certain sins that are easier to look past than others. We can hate homosexuality, pride, abuse of alcohol... and still love the people we call homosexual, prideful, and alcoholics. But what about those people who rape women, shoot elementary school children, or bomb athletic events? Is it possible to love those people while hating their sin? That is an extremely difficult question, but I think that to answer it, another question must be examined:
What love have I been shown? I have to recognize that I have offended God. Throughout history we are given example after example of how we fall short of the glory of God. Adam and Eve disobeyed God's command not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Cain murdered his brother Able. Israel continually doubted God's power and provision and turned to other gods. Even the heroes of Scripture failed to satisfy God's standard: Abraham had a child by his wife's servant because they didn't understand how God would provide them a promised heir, Moses was not able to enter the Promised Land because of his disobedience, and David had a man killed to cover up his adultery. In Hosea we are given a comparison between Israel's unfaithfulness to God and the infidelity of an adulterous wife. I must recognize that I am no better than these. I am Israel. I am Gomer. I have offended a most holy God. What can I do to fulfill what He requires? Nothing. Yet He has loved me.
I've written before about the love that Christ showed me while I was still His enemy (here), but in case you don't want to go back and read it, let me just recap. John 15 says, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." We recognize that this is what Christ did for us. He laid down his life for us, showing us the greatest, most perfect love that one could ever have for another. Yet in Romans 5, Paul writes, "For one would hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." When we were still God's enemies Christ showed us the greatest love by laying down His life on our behalf, by taking our place, becoming our substitute. God has hated my sin, but has loved me with such a love as to send His Son to pay the debt that I owe for my offense. So what does that mean for me now?
It is because of God's love for me that I can love others. I hate the evil I see in the world. I hate the things I see on the news. It breaks my heart to think of the lives lost in the Newtown shooting or at the Boston Marathon or the stabbings at Lone Star College. So how do I hate the sin that these men committed and still love them as Christ has loved me? I think that it starts with recognizing that God has shown me great love and that He loves these men as well. I have to admit that I am easily inclined to hate people who commit horrendous, unthinkable crimes. But then I remember that these people have friends and family and neighbors and co-workers who love and care for them and I think about the emotions that they are going through knowing that their loved one has done something so unthinkable. I also must remember that these men need the Lord. God loves them. He loves them with perfect love just as He loves us. But they have not yet recognized His love for them. Lastly, I must pray for them. I pray that as they are prosecuted, the truth is presented and justice is given. However, I also pray for their souls, that they would recognize God's good favor and offer of salvation even towards the worst offenders. And I pray for their loved ones who are left emotionally torn between defending justice and desiring grace.
So do I defend the actions of these bad people? Absolutely not. I abhor them. However, I recognize that I, too have offended the highest standard of righteousness and yet have found favor and grace. It is because I have experienced love that I can love others, including these men, even though I cannot understand nor accept their actions.
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. -1 John 4:10-11
There are certain sins that are easier to look past than others. We can hate homosexuality, pride, abuse of alcohol... and still love the people we call homosexual, prideful, and alcoholics. But what about those people who rape women, shoot elementary school children, or bomb athletic events? Is it possible to love those people while hating their sin? That is an extremely difficult question, but I think that to answer it, another question must be examined:
What love have I been shown? I have to recognize that I have offended God. Throughout history we are given example after example of how we fall short of the glory of God. Adam and Eve disobeyed God's command not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Cain murdered his brother Able. Israel continually doubted God's power and provision and turned to other gods. Even the heroes of Scripture failed to satisfy God's standard: Abraham had a child by his wife's servant because they didn't understand how God would provide them a promised heir, Moses was not able to enter the Promised Land because of his disobedience, and David had a man killed to cover up his adultery. In Hosea we are given a comparison between Israel's unfaithfulness to God and the infidelity of an adulterous wife. I must recognize that I am no better than these. I am Israel. I am Gomer. I have offended a most holy God. What can I do to fulfill what He requires? Nothing. Yet He has loved me.
I've written before about the love that Christ showed me while I was still His enemy (here), but in case you don't want to go back and read it, let me just recap. John 15 says, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." We recognize that this is what Christ did for us. He laid down his life for us, showing us the greatest, most perfect love that one could ever have for another. Yet in Romans 5, Paul writes, "For one would hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." When we were still God's enemies Christ showed us the greatest love by laying down His life on our behalf, by taking our place, becoming our substitute. God has hated my sin, but has loved me with such a love as to send His Son to pay the debt that I owe for my offense. So what does that mean for me now?
It is because of God's love for me that I can love others. I hate the evil I see in the world. I hate the things I see on the news. It breaks my heart to think of the lives lost in the Newtown shooting or at the Boston Marathon or the stabbings at Lone Star College. So how do I hate the sin that these men committed and still love them as Christ has loved me? I think that it starts with recognizing that God has shown me great love and that He loves these men as well. I have to admit that I am easily inclined to hate people who commit horrendous, unthinkable crimes. But then I remember that these people have friends and family and neighbors and co-workers who love and care for them and I think about the emotions that they are going through knowing that their loved one has done something so unthinkable. I also must remember that these men need the Lord. God loves them. He loves them with perfect love just as He loves us. But they have not yet recognized His love for them. Lastly, I must pray for them. I pray that as they are prosecuted, the truth is presented and justice is given. However, I also pray for their souls, that they would recognize God's good favor and offer of salvation even towards the worst offenders. And I pray for their loved ones who are left emotionally torn between defending justice and desiring grace.
So do I defend the actions of these bad people? Absolutely not. I abhor them. However, I recognize that I, too have offended the highest standard of righteousness and yet have found favor and grace. It is because I have experienced love that I can love others, including these men, even though I cannot understand nor accept their actions.
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. -1 John 4:10-11
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