Hate the Sin - Love the Sinner

[Salty]

We have all heard that term many times.
Do you use it?
Is it a Biblical phrase?
Or is their a phrase that would be better.


And NO - I am not pinning this on any particular Sin - as Sin IS Sin!
(So lets not go down that road)

 

[Ascetic X]

We have all heard that term many times.
Do you use it?
Is it a Biblical phrase?
Or is their a phrase that would be better.


And NO - I am not pinning this on any particular Sin - as Sin IS Sin!
(So lets not go down that road)

I apply this “ hate the sin, love the sinner” in the sense of trying to not be biased against a person based on what their sin is. This is not easy.

When we hear a news report about a particularly horrible, repulsive crime, we may get angry and hope the sinner gets what they deserve.

I try to react in genuine sympathy for the victim, then pray that God will transform the sinner into being a more righteous individual. It is awful to be a victim of a monstrously evil act, but it is also terrible to be the person who commits the atrocious deed.

Each of us could be far more wicked than we are, so I am thankful that, although I have been bad, God has kept me from being worse.

How to treat a person who sins? We do not want to enable them to continue sinning. We do not want to do anything that could be seen as condoning or ignoring their sin. But we also do not want to be cruel to them.

I was friendly to a guy in my Grief Share group at church. I eventually decided to visit him at his house. But on the day I was supposed to drop by, when I googled his name to see a photo of his house, I saw news reports about how he is a registered sex offender for soliciting a girl under 15 years old. It freaked me out.

I made a bunch of excuses for why I could not visit him that day. I continued to be nice to him, but not as enthusiastically. I distanced myself from him, but tried not to be too obvious about it. I pray for God to change his heart and remove his predatory behavior. Not long after that episode, I quit going to the Grief Share meetings. One reason was how uncomfortable I was around the guy.

 

[SovereignGrace]

We have all heard that term many times.

Yes.

Do you use it?

No.

Is it a Biblical phrase?

No.

Or is there a phrase that would be better.

God’s love is found only in Christ, outside of that the wrath of God abides upon them.

And NO - I am not pinning this on any particular Sin - as Sin IS Sin!
(So lets not go down that road)

Agreed.

 

[Charlie24]

I apply this “ hate the sin, love the sinner” in the sense of trying to not be biased against a person based on what their sin is. This is not easy.

When we hear a news report about a particularly horrible, repulsive crime, we may get angry and hope the sinner gets what they deserve.

I try to react in genuine sympathy for the victim, then pray that God will transform the sinner into being a more righteous individual. It is awful to be a victim of a monstrously evil act, but it is also terrible to be the person who commits the atrocious deed.

Each of us could be far more wicked than we are, so I am thankful that, although I have been bad, God has kept me from being worse.

How to treat a person who sins? We do not want to enable them to continue sinning. We do not want to do anything that could be seen as condoning or ignoring their sin. But we also do not want to be cruel to them.

I was friendly to a guy in my Grief Share group at church. I eventually decided to visit him at his house. But on the day I was supposed to drop by, when I googled his name to see a photo of his house, I saw news reports about how he is a registered sex offender for soliciting a girl under 15 years old. It freaked me out.

I made a bunch of excuses for why I could not visit him that day. I continued to be nice to him, but not as enthusiastically. I distanced myself from him, but tried not to be too obvious about it. I pray for God to change his heart and remove his predatory behavior. Not long after that episode, I quit going to the Grief Share meetings. One reason was how uncomfortable I was around the guy.

It would be difficult or maybe impossible to lead someone to Christ without being able to tell them that God loves them and will forgive their sins by grace through faith in Christ and repentance.

 

[Ascetic X]

It would be difficult or maybe impossible to lead someone to Christ without being able to tell them that God loves them and will forgive their sins by grace through faith in Christ and repentance.

Yes. Jesus hated our sins, but loved us sinners. So we should also hate the sin, but love or at least not hate the sinner.

Being compassionate to the sinner does not necessarily mean become close friends with them though. For certain types of sins, the most I can do is not be unkind or rude to those who commit the sin.

 

[Charlie24]

Yes. Jesus hated our sins, but loved us sinners. So we should also hate the sin, but love or at least not hate the sinner.

Being compassionate to the sinner does not necessarily mean become close friends with them though. For certain types of sins, the most I can do is not be unkind or rude to those who commit the sin.

We were in one if our men's meeting at Church on a weeknight and the subject of God's love came up.

One man said he didn't believe God loves everyone. One of the pastors from another Church that meets with us on occasion reminded him what John said that He died for the sins of the whole world.

He went on to say there is no love greater than that, and He did for all of mankind. For the one that lives a life with a moral code as well as the murderer and rapist, etc. Although God will forgive such sins that doesn't mean he won't pay for those sins in a court of law here and now.

 

[Ascetic X]

We were in one if our men's meeting at Church on a weeknight and the subject of God's love came up.

One man said he didn't believe God loves everyone. One of the pastors from another Church that meets with us on occasion reminded him what John said that He died for the sins of the whole world.

He went on to say there is no love greater than that, and He did for all of mankind. For the one that lives a life with a moral code as well as the murderer and rapist, etc. Although God will forgive such sins that doesn't mean he won't pay for those sins in a court of law here and now.

While it is true that God does love everyone, no matter how bad they are, when it comes to us being compassionate to certain types of sinners, it can be difficult. I mean, certain types of sin cause me to be wary. Like murder, rape, burglary, home invasion, car theft, arson, etc. But I would witness to them and try to lead them to Christ.

 

[Charlie24]

While it is true that God does love everyone, no matter how bad they are, when it comes to us being compassionate to certain types of sinners, it can be difficult. I mean, certain types of sin cause me to be wary. Like murder, rape, burglary, home invasion, car theft, arson, etc. But I would witness to them and try to lead them to Christ.

I would feel the same way.

 

[37818]

The only forgiveness of worth is God's New Covenant forgiveness.
Hebrews 8:12, For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
From Jeremiah 31:31-34.

 

[Scarlett O.]

I look at it like this. Jesus loved the sinner and of course hated their sin. But he loved them too much to leave them where they were. He gave the call to repent, explained concepts, gave direction, and more.

 

[37818]

..

I look at it like this. Jesus loved the sinner and of course hated their sin. But he loved them too much to leave them where they were. He gave the call to repent, explained concepts, gave direction, and more.

Mark 1:15, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

 

[timf]

It depends on if one defines "love" as an emotion such as affection, sympathy, empathy, or concern. This is different that the biblical definition of love which is essentially selflessness.

1Co 13:4 Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1Co 13:5 doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil;
1Co 13:6 rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth;
1Co 13:7 beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Feeling sympathy for a sinner who is hurting himself with his sin is compassionate. Feeling sympathy for a sinner who is hurting another is more difficult. In either case our feelings do not contribute anything helpful.

The saying is generally used to attempt to get someone who condemns a sinner to back off. And while spouting self-righteous condemnations may be a sin of its own, attempting to manipulate someone by saying something that sounds "christiany" may also be a sin.

Perhaps Christianity is best followed in humility with wisdom and truth rather than pithy catch phrases.

 

[Ascetic X]

It depends on if one defines "love" as an emotion such as affection, sympathy, empathy, or concern. This is different that the biblical definition of love which is essentially selflessness.

1Co 13:4 Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1Co 13:5 doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil;
1Co 13:6 rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth;
1Co 13:7 beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Feeling sympathy for a sinner who is hurting himself with his sin is compassionate. Feeling sympathy for a sinner who is hurting another is more difficult. In either case our feelings do not contribute anything helpful.

The saying is generally used to attempt to get someone who condemns a sinner to back off. And while spouting self-righteous condemnations may be a sin of its own, attempting to manipulate someone by saying something that sounds "christiany" may also be a sin.

Perhaps Christianity is best followed in humility with wisdom and truth rather than pithy catch phrases.

Did Jesus hate the sin, but love the sinner?

 

[timf]

Did Jesus hate the sin, but love the sinner?

The love of Jesus paid the price for the sins of the whole world.

However, there were those with whom Jesus did not show the "love" that people frequently think about.

Joh_8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Joh_2:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

There is coming a day when justice trumps mercy;

Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

 

[Ascetic X]

Did Jesus hate the sin, but love the sinner?

The love of Jesus paid the price for the sins of the whole world.

However, there were those with whom Jesus did not the "love" that people frequently think about.

Joh_8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Joh_2:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

There is coming a day when justice trumps mercy;

Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Being angry at someone does not mean hating them. Chasing money changers out of the temple did not mean Jesus hated them.

You cannot find a single verse that states Jesus hated anyone. He hated the sin of the Pharisees who opposed Him, but Jesus did not hate them personally. After all, two of the Pharisees became His disciples — Nicodemus and the apostle Paul.

Jesus did not even hate those who mocked and crucified Him. He told the Father to forgive them as He hung on the cross.

Matthew 23:37

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

 

[timf]

Who said Jesus "hated" them?