God says we are to love the person and hate their sin. Can a Christian love th

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   celafoeposted 10 years ago

   God says we are to love the person and hate their sin.   Can a Christian love them IN  their sin?
   
   Today many say that all we have to do is love everyone.  God says we are to love them and hate their sin.   Can we love them in their sin and still please God  or are we required to fulfill scriptural requirements and address the sin in order to bring them to salvation.   In other words is there a way to bring them to salvation without following the scriptural steps, repent, change, accept Christ as savior, be baptized and follow Him?  Or does following scripture make us legalistic and wrong?.

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   johnsonrallenposted 10 years ago

   Jesus loved those in sin before those people even knew who they were speaking to. He didn't transform their lives after they repented, but loved them first. "They will know you are Christians by your love," the Bible teaches. I think loving others is a better witness to unbelievers than preaching at them. While a person is still an unbeliever, I don't think it's our place to judge them. Our "job" at that point is to be real and honest with them, loving them and showing them that being a Christian is truly different. Actions speak louder than words, after all.

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      celafoeposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      excellent

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      taburkettposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      we are to rebuke the sinner, unless they repent. Loving the sinner that does not repent is following and supporting the sin. Preaching is to be considered training, not chastisement. Being a Christian is truly different through righteousness.

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      johnsonrallenposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Wow, I don't agree at all. Loving someone has no relation to agreeing with their lifestyle. Who did Christ spend more time with, by the way, the religious or sinners? He actively showed love to them. God is love and that's who I'd like to emulate.

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      celafoeposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      johnsonrallen-- i assume you are talking to taburkett and His totally unscriptural/unCHristian  reply.   agreed  we are to show them love and teach them truth by example so they desire what we have, the Love of God.

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      johnsonrallenposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I am. I see Christ loving sinners He came in contact with BEFORE they changed their lives. It was love that turned their lives around.

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      taburkettposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Luke17:3Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, if he repents, forgive him.
      to the wicked God says:What right have you to recite my laws
          or take my covenant on your lipsYou hate my beliefs
          and cast my words behind you.

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      johnsonrallenposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      He's talking about believers, not nonbelievers. There are different commands for both. Anyway, we'll agree to disagree. I will choose to love as Christ loved, by example.

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   taburkettposted 10 years ago

   We are to forgive the sinners if they repent.
   Luke 17:3-4 So watch yourselves!    “If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.”
   Matthew 6:15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
   1 Timothy 5:20 But those elders who are sinning, you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.
   We are not permitted to love a sinner because we would be following in their steps.
   We are not permitted to love those that sin and simply ask for forgiveness as a ploy to receive approval for their actions.
   Psalm 11:5 The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion.
   Christians prove themselves through the righteousness they live each day.
   Proverbs 15:9 The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.

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   IDONOposted 10 years ago

   I heard a story today that is quite fitting. A shepherd will leave his flock of 100 to pursue the 1 that goes astray. So does God. So should we.

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      celafoeposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      what does this have to do with the above question?

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      taburkettposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      We must lead the lost sheep back to the flock. However, unlike the shepherds sheep, wickedness in humans causes them to deny God. Through denial, the wicked continue to lead others down the sinners path.

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      celafoeposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      TAB-- only the willing can be led astray  see James 1:14

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      jcresslerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      That is true for the post sheep and the flock...but what of the shepherd? Jesus is the good shepherd but we are shepherds in our own right as well. Consider the difference and you'll see a different harder side of Christianity that cannot turn away.

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      celafoeposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      jcr-  not sure I understand what you are trying to say.   there is ONLY 1 Shepherd,  but i certainly know many "UNDERshepherds" that are leading God's people astray.  and certainly we are ALL responsible to lead the lost to CHrist

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      taburkettposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      The child will be lost when trained by the wicked one. Under the spell of evil the child will not know the correct path. We must wear the whole armor of God, so that we can stand against the devils schemes. This will allow us to shepherd the lost.

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      IDONOposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      My point is that even though you don't like what some people do, you still have to love them enough to bring them back to the right path. As Christians, a group of Christians don't need our attention.1 sinner does. That is carrying the message.

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   Sri Tposted 10 years ago

   You can love them if it makes you happy. I would say neither love or hate. Then only freedom remains. Their sin is between God and them. It has nothing to do with me. It is none of my business what God does to them. I cannot control what they do and I am not responsible for their sins or actions.

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      celafoeposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      quite apparently you are not a Christian so i would not expect you to understand the question

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      taburkettposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Sinners have directly affected me, my family, and friends. They directly affect others daily. That sin against man is an attack on man and makes God angry. When a person worships God, God delivers prominence.

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      celafoeposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      tab-- explain. I do not understand what you are trying to say here

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      Sri Tposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I just have the wisdom to leave it to God.

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      celafoeposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      SriT--  that is not a scriptural stance

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      taburkettposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Sinners have killed my family members. Sinners have rapped my family members. Sinners have stolen from my family and friends. Sinners continue to attack all who follow God's law. When a person worships God, they prosper through righteousness.

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      dianetrotterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Tab, Romans 3:23 3 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
      1 John 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us 
      Sinners are not "they."  Sinners are "we."

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      celafoeposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      no Dianne -- Christians are no longer sinners, yes we sin but we were made righteous through the acceptance of the blood of CHrist for our payment.   we may sin bur are no longer sinners, they have not accepted His payment

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      dianetrotterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      That is true celafoe.  I was attempting to address Tab's comment about all of the sinners doing things to his family?

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   dianetrotterposted 10 years ago

   We should love as God commanded us.  People love depending on who the person is.  A parent often forgives a child for having a baby out of wedlock and gets government assistance. They go on to shower love on their grandchildren.  If a non-relative has a baby out of wedlock and applies for government assistance, we are supposed to love that person too.  This is one of those "Do unto others" situations.

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      taburkettposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      So - how do you handle those that abort the living child? Do you love the aborted child and love the sinner? Or do you attempt to change the sinner so that you can love both a living child and parent? This is one of those "Do Unto Others".

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      dianetrotterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Aborting the living child is murder.  Yes you love the child and love the sinner.  The sinner does have to expect consequences.  That is Biblical.  God loved David.  David committed adultery with Bathsheba and sent Uriah to be killed.  God loved Davi

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   jcresslerposted 10 years ago

   Love the sinner and hate the sin!
   Then there's the steps to forgiveness:  identification, repentance, confession, and amends.
   I've been taught to sweep my side of the street before inspecting my neighbors sidewalks. This speaks to leading by example. I strongly suggest that no one person can "fulfill scriptural requirements and address the sin in order to bring them to salvation." We are walking in God's domain if we try and natural disasters often occur.
   If I live a happy, joyous, and free life through Jesus Christ and His church, then those folks that the Holy Spirit has convicted will come to me, asking questions when it's time. We cannot rope them in with finger pointing.

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      taburkettposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Each individual must accept responsibility for their actions. This includes sins associated with their wicked agenda.
      Acts 13:38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you."

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   Michael-Milecposted 10 years ago

   ..." to love..." , clarification/interpretation is required what love is ( good read 1.Cor. 13 th chapter ) . " God so loved the world that He gave..." Love isn't mere words. We do not "hate" a person neither we do " love"  a person ; we have chance to  express an act of kindness, help, give to meet a need...that might be " love" in action , a possibilty opening door for the Gift of God leading to repentance and acceptance of the life eternal.

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   christiananrkistposted 10 years ago

   I'm curious to know where in the bible it says to love people and hate their sin.

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