LOVE THE SINNER(?) HATE THE SIN(?)

This morning I was driving to the office and thinking, a dangerous adventure- I know. I have been pondering different comments by people that I have conversed with lately concerning reaching people for Jesus Christ. One of the comments that I have heard many times, including lately is- "Love the sinner but hate the sin".

Is this really true? Is this really what God wants from us? What does this mean?

These questions are racing through my mind like Star Jones at a Ryan's Restaurant.

In some places the bible is clear that God loves sinner. "Romans 5:8 "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet SINNERS, Christ died for us", or Matthew 5:43" You have heard that is was said 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy' but I (Jesus) say to you love your enemies and pray for those persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous". No doubt that in at least some sense God loves sinners, and apparently all sinners!

But in other places, the bible seems to paint a different picture. Psalm 7:11 says that "God is angry with the wicked every day" and Proverbs 6 says "16- There are six things that God HATES, Yes, seven that are an abomination to HIM (WOW- harsh words). 17- Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, and ONE WHO SPREADS STRIFE AMONG BROTHERS" OUCH! According to this proverb, God hates and abhors those who cause division among brothers.

So- Does God love the sinner and hate the sin? Before we try to figure out the mind of the Lord, another question comes to mind: Should we hate the sin and love the sinner?

As our church community labors to be missional, it is clear that we need to love sinners. How else can you "win" some people apart from Love. Love seems to be the heart of reaching people, yes, it seems like I have heard that before... "For God so loved....".

So what exactly is "hating the sin"? What does it look like? For many it means that you put a scowl on your face and wave a super-sized family KJV 1611 at people while telling them they are going to hell. For others it means taking a stand against issues like homosexuality, alcohol, immorality, and abortion. And there is no doubt that these are important issues that warrant our attention. But are these things what really send people to hell? Doesn't Jesus say- "I did not come into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through me might be saved, Whoever does not believe is condemned already because he/she has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil" (John 3:17-19). A guy who wear professional clothing, lives in White Suburbian America, votes republican, doesn't cheat on his wife, raises his kids to pay their taxes/bills and be patriotic, live moral lives, works hard on the job, doesn't cuss, watch most rated R movies, shows up at church sometimes, but rejects Jesus Christ as the Treasure hidden in the field is GOING TO HELL! His hell will not be any less tormenting than any other type of sinner.

The question is- Do we hate Mr. Republican's sin the same as Mr/Mrs. drunken Whoremonger?

In what we, if any, should we hate the sin of others? WHere in scripture are we commanded to hate the specific sins of others? I know we should abhor what is evil, but that can't mean people can it? Are we fighting against flesh and blood? (Eph 6:12)

If we truly believe and love Christ, then shouldn't we mourn over sin? (Matthew 5:4) Shouldn't our response to cry over the wickedness in the world not be angry? Shouldn't our hearts weep over the lostness of the drunk, the adulterer and such?

Maybe that is a type of hatred, but not the hate that I see and deplore. Maybe I am protesting people that are truly my bro's and sisters in Christ, and maybe I am hating their sin the same way I criticize their hatred of sin?

Our Mission is not to hate sin or sinners, but rather to love people just like we were loved in ~Christ while we were yet sinners. No doubt that sin is something we should despise and flee, but we should be cautious in how we communicate our hatred of sin in others. For instance, I believe that the bible is clear that adulterey is strictly forbidden in scripture, however, I should be careful in how I demonstrate my hatred towards adultery so that adulterers would not confuse my hatred of sin, towards them. My hatred should look more like concern and love towards them, than picketing. In fact, if the church spent more time exposing sin within the church with harsh judgment rather than lost people maybe we would begin to win people again to Christ (1 Cor 5, 2 Cor 2).

Conclusion: I am pretty sure if hatred means anger, and making public stands against specific types of sin, without doing ALL/EVERYTHING TO REACH those people, then my hatred (or your hatred) does not honor God. If I don't go to be a friend to the drunk (like um.............oh yeah JESUS- Luke 15:1-2) and invite him/her into my home I am not a Christian, but a politician.

Last word for this thought: Would we all be more like John Knox in our praying, then maybe we would start to win back the youth to Christ- "Give me Scottland, or I'll die".

God teach me to pray- "Give me Santa Rosa County, or I'll die".

YOU STAY CLASSY SANTA ROSA,

I'm out,

S

An Epiphany at Panera Bread: It’s 7 A.M.! I am at Panera bread enjoying the bread of heaven and a cinnamon crunch bagel with a cup of joe. What a great way to start your morning! I am in Bellevue, NE on vacation visiting my family. As I am reading through Psalm 119 (I have been reading this Psalm for the past few weeks, it just flows with reading through the Proverbs which I have been doing in my morning scripture readings for the past 2 years) I had an Epiphany. I AM GLAD I BELIEVE IN THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD! I read Psalm 119:68 says- “YOU are good, and what you do is good; teach me YOUR decrees”. If you don’t believe in the absolute Sovereignty of God, then there is probably not much hope in this verse for you. These thoughts are fresh in my mind because I saw an old friend of the family yesterday that I am convinced does not believe in the Sovereignty of God as spelled out in the bible, and we often make joust with one another over the topic. For him, he willfully chooses to make simplistic remarks with the hallmark verse of most in his camp ‘whosoever will’. (Sometimes I think that is the only verses they knowJ) While I have been ordained to study the word to accurately divide it in honor of God (2 Tim 2:15). Anyway, back to the epiphany, as I read this I took great hope in this Psalm. I believe the Bible when it says (anything) that God “works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will”. I take great hope in that God is good. I suspect my friend does also. However, the inclination of my friend (and so many others) is to scurry (fun word) to vindicate God when things go apparently bad. So many Christians want to hail God as good, so they labor to make God NOT responsible for so much apparent evil in the world. This is insane. Some of most awful acts against humanity have been in the bigger, better picture good. Take Joseph for instance. He was sold to slavery by his own brothers. Where is the good in this? God can’t be responsible for this! So, God permitted it! I know this is well meant, but it leaves me little to no hope in Psalm 119:68. Joseph’s brothers were complete pricks. What they did was pure evil. There wasn’t an ounce of good will in their intentions. But, (I love butsJ) what man (in this case several men) meant (purposed, willed, chose, determined) for evil, God meant (purposed, willed, chose, determined) for good, namely the salvation of many! That is because God is good, and what HE does is good. One more example: JESUS. Jesus was a good man. Everyone seems to be cool with saying this. I have met Muslims, Buddhists, Atheists- and Agnostics- and everyone says Jesus was/is good. He didn’t deserve to die the death He died. It was at least inhumane. To beat the crap out of a guy and strip Him naked, and then nail Him to a cross-that is ridiculously harsh. However, that is exactly what happened to Jesus. These people were wicked. They meant evil in this horrendous act. Where is God’s goodness in this? Did God just somehow, take man’s evil act/s and decide after the fact that He would turn this into good? Is God a reactionist? No, what man meant for evil, God meant for good. Jesus said “no man takes my life from Me, I lay it down, and I have the authority and power to take it back again?” Men’s evil, purposeful acts, were all part of God’s Sovereign plans and purpose bringing about good. GOD IS GOOD, and HE DOES GOOD- Teach me your decrees! God teach me to see that the things in my life that suck, the things that are outside of my choices and acts, that they are good, because You are good. So, when I get stuck in Nashville traffic, and I am empathizing with the ROAD-RAGEaholics, teach me that YOUR DECREES are good. When my wife gets cancer-teach me YOUR DECREES ARE GOOD! When people don’t see things my way (I really can’t figure out why everyone doesn’t see things the way I doJ), teach me Your decrees. Sometimes, things in life suck because of me. WHAT!? That can’t be. Well, maybe! And even their what Sam means for crappiness, God means for good! WHY? Because God is good, and I am evil. SO what I do on my own, is going to be evil at the heart, but What God does will always be good. I take great hope in this because the Chaos in the world seems not so Chaotic. The painful things have some consolation and hope. The mistakes have lessons. And the wrongs have right! BECAUSE GOD IS GOOD AND DOES GOOD!. God is sweet! Literally, as I drink this incredible cup of joe and eat this phenomenal bagel, I am reminded of how sweet He is. Plus, although I am sitting alone, I get the idea that He has been right here with me this whole time taking pleasure in my taking pleasure in Him. (B.H.- Do you ever have moments like this?) WIFI-ing for my enjoyment (and others also-hopefully)to the glory of God- I’m out for now. S