Hi
Are you familiar with the phrase, ‘Hate the sin, love the sinner’ – and if yes, did you think it was hypocritical (like I used to believe)? But what if it’s God’s Word to us believers? Hmmm. Chew slowly. Today’s Holy Nougatrequires serious digestion (even without the reflection)
“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.” Romans 12:9 NLT
Ironic that this comes within the context of a discourse on spiritual gifts eh. But the Church then had just as many issues as the church now. Especially in regards to human relations and behavior.
Hating wrong is not the same as hating the wrongdoer. Though unfortunately, quite often that’s how it translates in our time. Hating the wrong means recognizing what God believes is right or wrong and cleaving to God’s good.
In cleaving to the good, we probably don’t have to spend our entire free time berating that which isn’t, for our lives should speak for us (especially when we are Christ-directed). It means our walk, our talk, our thoughts should be so aligned that good becomes our focus through Christ Jesus.
And that includes loving others. Especially the spouse who broke our hearts with not understanding us /embarrassing us publicly. And the wretch … erm the dear soul … who cut us off in traffic recently. And the abuser who may need some love from God after I got my revenge. And the rapist who violated probation and gotta finish doing time. Serious time. And the one-off or serial murderers out there who seem to be sent to get our hackles up with such heinous actions. And the teacher who is just so evil! And the critic who is always finding fault. And especially … (you fill the blank)
Loving doesn’t always mean best buds, hanging with, nor is it condoning or patterning the bad behavior as proof of ‘acceptance’ of the person. Remember though, loving them sometimes means praying from a distance or forgiving without expectation of repentance. Really loving involves God’s intervention since it manages to erase the record of the other’s wrongs. (Yes God truly expects that of us!!! Sigh!)
So yes, we hate the sin, love the sinner; remembering that we also have messed up many times and been the recipient of loving Grace!
Nuff said
Have an anointed weekend
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
