Monday
Mar212005
God loves the sinner
Monday, March 21, 2005 at 10:22PM "God hates sin," some emphasize. But God hates sin like the parent of a leukemia victim hates cancer. God really does love the sinner. In order to reach the sinner we will have to love them, too, and offer themselves humbly and authentically as examples of what God's power can do. (Frederica Matthewes-Green)
Reader Comments (17)
Yea but without lessening the love of God for sinners the bible also teaches that God hates sinful people. For instance, "Because of all their wickedness in Gilgal, I hated them there..." Hosea 9:15 or try Psalms 5:5 or 11:5.
Trish, I do believe that the referrence is to those who wilfully turn their backs on God, and although given every opportunity to repent, refuse to do so. I may be wrong....it has been known to happen, unfortunately.... but that is my take on the scriptures you cited. Any one else have any insight? Darryl? You are studying for your D.Min. What do you say?
Sometimes I think we try too hard to smooth all the tensions. I don't usually quote MacArthur, but he says, "there are places in the Bible where it even says, 'God hates a sinner' or 'God hates an evil man.' But we have to understand that in the context, it
Again, I suggest that it is the wilful sinner of whom that is true. If God hated every sinful individual because of his/her sin, John 3:16 wouldn't apply, would it?
Don't know. Jesus seemed to love a lot of willful sinners in the Gospels - the worst types of sinners. God showed us his love, in that while we were yet sinners, he sent his Son...
Why are you even debating this? Go find yourself a 'sinner' and help them. Do something real.
Debating is okay as long as it gets us to that point.
Why are we debating this, Lori? Because I wouldn't want ONE sinner reading these comments to think that God hates him/her so much that there is no hope for his/her redemption. I know whereof I speak. I was there, once. "Real" enough for you?
I wouldn't want one sinner thinking God hates them either. I'm saying God LOVES the sinners, and time is better spent letting them know that, than arguing about it on the blog. (to which I also plead guilty now.) OK?
By the way, Darryl, I forgot to answer your comment. By "wilful" I meant those who refuse to accept the Gospel, like the chap in the Bible who said to Paul "You almost persuade me to be a Christian." We are all wilful sometimes, but in repentance, we seek God's forgiveness. I believe that God still loves the wilful, non-repentant sinner, but as you noted above, He hates the sin and what it has done to the individual. Problem is, His hands are tied, and He is unable to redeem that person. Due to God's Holiness, the non-repentant sinner cannot stand in His presence, and is doomed to an eternity apart from God. Hence, only in this context, it could be said that God "hates the sinner," and not just the sin.
Okay, Lori. Point made. No offense meant and none taken. I just couldn't leave here without making sure that everybody understands that NO sin is bad enough that God will reject anyone who genuinely repents and seeks forgiveness. I wouldn't want anyone reading the comments above to have the impression that God hates sinners and that there is no hope for them. I thought it equally important to take the time to clarify that point as it is to "go into all the world."
Hey Arthur, it's a church blog. Lots of sinners here.:^)
Yikes! Is not a church blog. But you're right, sinners of all types (including the worst kind, the churchy type) are here.
Would you be worried about being viewed as a 'church blog?' I love our church blogs at New Heights.
This is a personal blog. I'd just hate if it was insular and only there for church people.
ya, i agree. insular is sickening!
Church blog or not, it may be that some unchurched, unsaved sinner wandered in to see what all the hooplah is about. If that person, like I did at one time, thought that he or she had no hope of salvation, it would be a tragedy. Now, guys: This sinner has been serious for far too long. It just isn't like me... just ask Darryl. Time for me to go and play in the coffee shop with all my other sinner friends. Hey, don't knock it... that is where I do my best ministry. (If I can help one person along my way, ...........)