Examine that Plank

Some of these blogs have been about judging others and why not to do it.  The limitations of judging another, of putting another in a box of your own preconceived notions, always limits us, rather than the person judged.  However, I do want to talk about something I have heard about time and again when justifying our (my) behavior toward other people with whom I think I am better.

"Hate the sin, love the sinner!"

Have you heard this before?  As Christians, I know that this phrase has done more to marginalize those whom we feel are engaged in activities, lifestyles, thoughts, or even feelings with which we do not agree.  It is another box.  Another label.  Another way to justify judging them.  But, it makes us feel better about ourselves.  For we are not rejecting the person.  No....We love the person, we are rejecting the sin.  Aren't we holy?

I am getting a little empassioned about this.  Usually my writing does not come across so strong or cynical.  I do apologize about this, however; it is a little something that bugs the heck out of me.

If you look at the way Jesus lived his life, the words he spoke, the way he loved, he never advocated "Love the Sinner Hate the Sin!"  In fact, Jesus, when witnessing the condemnation of the woman caught in adultery, he did not say, "Don't stone this woman.  Love her, but hate her sin!"  No.  He rather turned the tables on those judges and pointed out that not a one of them was without sin, none could justify their own position of judgment against her.

In light of this, perhaps we should re-write this oft used phrase.

"Love the sinner, and hate the sin in ourselves!"

or rather,

"Love everyone, and work on the sins in ourselves that get in the way of loving others even more!"

What would that scene have been like if we (I) did this more often?   Would we sit down with the woman, listen to her, learn who she is, what happened, and love to even more?  Would there have even been a gathering.  Perhaps a neighbor would have sat down with her and been a great friend, and the woman would have had the support, understanding and acceptance to see in her own life to deal with her own sins or roadblocks to loving others and herself.

This is really just a reminder to myself.  I need to Love everyone, and work on the sins in ourselves that get in the way of loving others even more!