Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin?

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They say you can't "love the sinner, and hate the sin." It's not possible. If you love someone, you cannot hate how they are to themselves or others. If you love someone, you must accept the entirety of who he is. All of it.

As a scholar, equipped with (that's right) a Bachelor's Degree from a Fully-Accredited Institution, I humbly, respectfully, and collegially submit:

Bull.

Proof? Exhibit A: Me.

I hate some of the ways I am, and some of the things I do. I hate, hate, hate it. I do not approve. I cast aspersion. I think I'm a moral mess. I should wear the scarlet alphabet, plus some scarlet numbers and maybe some scarlet wingdings.

...but I don't hate me. No, I'm pretty taken with me, actually.

I loves me some me.

In spite of my moral failures, in spite of my sin, I still manage to want what's best for me. I'm rooting for me, big time. I'm in my corner. I'm on the me bandwagon. I carry around a picture of me in my wallet. I hate some stuff I do, some ways I am, but I'm here to tell you, I still manage to pray for blessings to be poured onto my head.

If there's one person whom I know is a real selfish jerk, it's Me. I can't know your motives, but I know Me, and I can manage to come off unselfish for selfish purposes. I know it, you know it, the American people know it. And you know who I'd like to see win the lottery? Me, of all people!

Figure this: There's only one guy whose moral failings are amply displayed in front of me every waking moment. And I actually put that guy's pants on for him every day. I shop for him. I pay for his entertainment. I try to make him look nice. I floss his teeth. I take him to the bathroom. It's way gross, but I want this guy to succeed. I'm apparently pretty taken with him.

Yep, love the sinner, hate the sin. Sounds not only tenable, not only do-able -- it's almost like breathing.

posted by Brant Hansen at 11:55 PM on March 20th, 2010

6 Comments | Email this to a friend |

I've got to say, I agree with you! If everyone would just think about it for a second, they'd probably realize that they know at least one person whom they love, yet they can't stand some of the sin that they commit.
I hope that makes sense! (;
Of course, there's also the judgmental issue... Who are we to judge the sins of others?
But I think that, just because we're not judging the person for their actions, it doesn't mean we have to like what they do.

Posted By Susan (: | March 20, 2010 @ 5:14

I agree with you all the way. I feel the same about myself. I find I can hate an action or an attitude and not hate the person.

Posted By Pastor Brian | March 20, 2010 @ 6:05

This situation is the easiest to see in the situation of a mother whose son is an alcoholic. Her hatred of his sin isn't because it affects her or because she's self-righteous or unaccepting. Her hatred of his sin is so strong because her love for her son is even stronger, she wants what's best for him, and she hates seeing him caught up in this thing that will eventually destroy him. If she didn't love him so very much, she wouldn't hate the sin as much either.

Posted By AG | March 22, 2010 @ 4:07

Wow...Love your spin on it. I love me some people. Sinnin' people, mean, nasty people. People that wanna spit on me people. People that'll sell me to get ahead people. I love 'em because my sins come out of the same book, and because I'm no better. My challenge is loving me some me. God LOVES Him some ME! I'm trying to follow suit - and I'm getting there with His help! Oh, to see through His eyes...

Posted By Rocky | March 22, 2010 @ 5:12

In answer to the question...yes you can hate the sin and love the sinner. A woman chose to marry and have a child with me. I was deeply in love with her. She was my partner, best friend and lover. After (6) six years of what appeared to be a great marriage full of life, love and fun, and when our child was almost (6) six years old herself, my wife, my love, told me that she never really loved me and that she was leaving me to live a gay life style. Now my daughter is 16 years old and has decided that she is experimenting with the lifestyle also. My daughter whom I love with my whole being has also decided to live with her mother, even though we have shared custody. She has also cut me off from all communication, no calls nor text from her in almost a year. She only stays 3 miles from where I live. The gay life style has taken so much away from me. I do love my daughter with all my heart, unconditionally. I do hate the sin, but dearly love the daughter. I pray for my daughter every day and love her no matter what. I ask for your prayers also. Yes you can love the sinner and hate the sin.

Posted By Brian | March 23, 2010 @ 1:53

Most often, it seems like the people who are most adamantly opposed to the notion of hating the sin/loving the sinner are people who have some sin in their life that they are refusing to let go of (or even acknowledge as sin). It's usually a lot easier to accuse the hate the sin/love the sinner advocates of being hateful bigots, than it is to accept that one is really that sinful. It's the old "Well I know I'm not perfect, but I've never killed anyone" syndrome. Apparently, Jesus went to all that trouble to save us, when all we really needed was a spit-shine and a little positive reenforcement. Silly saviour.

Posted By Ricky H | April 12, 2010 @ 9:47

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