For the past couple of weeks, I have been fixated on two phrases that are similar but different.  They both deal with sin and sinners.  One is a catchphrase you hear a lot of people use when discussing sin and sinners.  The other was very new to me but forced me to rethink some things and reflect on God’s Word for the foundation.

Both phrases are catchy and roll off the tongue pretty easily.  They are easy to fling out there in a discussion about people, but if you take the time to dissect them, there is some real meat to each of them.  If not used carefully I think they can be misused or even wasted.

Both put me in mind of a passage in James.

James 2:15-16 (ESV)

¹⁵ If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?

By now, if you are still with me, you are asking what in the world is he talking about?  Well, the first phrase is; “Hate the sin, but love the sinner.”  How many times have you used that phrase?  I can tell you I have used it a lot.  The thing is have I lived it out.

“Hate the Sin”

It is easy to hate the sin.  We can all list the things that we hate that are in agreement with what God hates.  Today it is easy to say we hate abortion, and murder, sexual immorality, lying, cheating, and stealing, as well as any of the ten commandments.  But how far do we get past this list?  How far do we go to show that there is more to a person than the sin?

Can we say that we only hate the sin, especially in today’s world when the sinner is so adamant about the sin?  It seems it is not enough that we agree to disagree on issues that have become the law of the land but oppose God’s law, these sinners want us to approve of their sin and in so doing say that there is nothing wrong with it.

In their mind to hate the sin is to hate them.  The question I had to ask myself was, are they right?  Do I love the sinner?

“Love the Sinner”

I looked at how I act around those who sin against God, and I consider how Jesus responded.  I think about who He associated with.  I look at How God addressed David’s sin with Bathsheba.  I consider how He dealt with Moses.

There are consequences that come with all our actions, good and bad, and we have to deal with them as they come, but that did not change the love that God has for us if we turn to Him and repent.

God did not save us once we got our act together.  He saved us in spite of our reckless rebellion.  I like how Paul puts it in Ephesians 2

Ephesians 2:1-10 (ESV)

¹ And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ² in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— ³ among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. ⁴ But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— ⁶ and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

He saved us because he loved us.  We were not worthy.  He hated sin.  But he loved us so much that He acted.  He sent His only Son to die for us and to pay our debt.

Reflections

What better example is there than that for us to love the sinner in spite of the sin.  God knew that not all would hear and believe.  Jesus knew this as well.  He knew that he would be persecuted.

John 1:9-14 (ESV)

⁹ The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. ¹¹ He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. ¹² But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, ¹³ who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus warns that this process will not be easy.  When he sent out the 12 apostles in Matthew 10 He warned them that there would be persecution.

Jesus knew that for us to live in this world and to be effective, it was going to be hard, and in John 17 he prayed for the apostles and those that would follow.

Closing Thoughts

When I think of this phrase now, I do see it differently.  I do still hate the sin, but I ache for the sinner.  Yes, that does include loving them, but there comes with it sadness because this sin is so powerful in their lives because they do not know God or believe who He is.  They are blind to the truth and they, for reasons beyond my ability to understand, seemingly have no desire to know.

I cannot change their hearts.  I cannot push them into believing what God has shown me; I can only share what I know, in love and truth, and pray earnestly that God may open their eyes to the truth of the Gospel.

That truth is hard for some to hear.  Unbelievers do not want to be told that they, like everyone else, have sinned against God and fallen short of His glory.  Some do not want to be told that the only way to salvation is to surrender themselves to God and acknowledge that their only hope of salvation is faith in Jesus Christ and His death, burial and resurrection from the dead.

I knew that as a child, but it was not until I was 52 years old that God opened my heart to truly understand those words.  I thank Him for that every day…  every time it comes to mind.

Prayer

Father, thank you for this life and salvation you give us through your Son Jesus.  Thank you for your holy Word and for opening our minds to the truth of the scriptures.  Father, bless us with a thirst for knowing you and sharing your gospel that can never be satisfied.  Help us love as you loved us.  In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.

P.S.

That other phrase…  I guess I will cover it next time.  God bless and keep you.