Half Truths: Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin
This morning, we conclude our series on half-truths, phrases we think of as biblical, when really, they are bibl-ish. We take a look at “Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin.” Like each and every one of these five clichés that we have explored, we are absolutely sure that we can find them somewhere in the Bible.
Maybe Jesus said it. No!
Maybe, it is a proverb. No!
Maybe, it is a letter of Paul’s. No!
These half-truths have taken root in our culture and our theological imagination with a kernel of truth and what remains is distortion over time. Additionally, we also hear “No sin is worse than another” in conjunction.
So, where does this come from? Jesus never said it or the concept.
The phrase originated with Saint Augustine, a bishop in North Africa, who lived between the late fourth century and early fifth century. Bishop Augustine provided oversight to religious orders including nuns. He writes asking them to remain chaste, and to have “a love for people and hatred for their vices.” (1) Doubtful, he intended to coin a phrase.
Mahatma Gandhi wrote comparable words in his autobiography with an addition: “Hate the sin and not the sinner is precept which, though easy enough to understand is rarely practiced, and that is why the poison of hatred spreads throughout in the world.” Gandhi’s observations did not lead him to support this half-truth. Instead, he found it was hard to hate without causing harm to the other.
Earlier this month, clergywomen of our Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference gathered for fellowship and discipleship in an unlikely location. With the inspiration of Greek word, hamartia and plenty of stress to relieve, we gathered at axe-throwing range. Imagine, clergywomen of all ages throwing axes! I was the head cheerleader with my shoulder still actively in physical therapy. Hamartia is the Greek word for sin, which means to miss the mark. We learned the skills of aiming, throwing overhanded and underhand axes. As I watched my colleagues’ concentration, I was struck by how despite their best intentions, they deviated from path and missed the mark. But boy, did we celebrate when someone made a bullseye!
We all sin. We all miss the mark. None of us lives a perfect life. Paul writes in the letter to Rome, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). And Paul goes on in the same letter to say, “I don’t do the good I want to do, and I end up doing the things I don’t want to do.” (Romans 7:19). Are all sins really equal? No.
Can you imagine for a minute someone who loves Dunkin Donuts? And now imagine someone who loves Dunkin Donuts enough to eat a dozen Dunkin Donuts over the course of a morning. This practice would lead to an overfull stomach and be an act of gluttony. However, this is not the same in God’s eyes as an individual who is driving while intoxicated with the potential to seriously harm another. Both actions have missed the mark and are overconsuming; however, the potential consequences are very different.
Anyone who been around children has some view of distinction between different levels of offense. You cannot treat a child who colored on the wall the same as a child who broke the window or a child who got his head stuck in the banister on the stairs. Our intention and purpose shapes our level of offense. Even among what are considered the seven deadly sins – lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride, pride is the root from which all the other sins arise. After we explore this half-truth, “Love the sinner, hate the sin,” my hope is that you will remove this from your spiritual terminology.
The first part of the phrase, “love the sinner” is actually true! Biblically, we hear a lot of commands to love. This is exactly what Jesus did. In fact, we spent this Lent exploring commands to love. Love your enemies. Love the hypocrites. Love your neighbors. Jesus certainly loved sinners, and Jesus was called a friend of sinners. However, there was no commandments on loving sinners, but rather on loving your neighbor. The distinction is instructive.
As the Pharisee and the tax collector went to the Temple to pray, there were some who had already begun to judge. Some had already decided the tax collector was the worst kind of sinner, because they collaborated with the Romans as occupiers against the Jewish people. Others had judged the Pharisees to be righteous, they were set apart and deemed to have purer thoughts.
When “Love the sinner” is our guiding thought, we begin to focus on this aspect, like the Pharisee seems to have – I will love you despite the fact that you are a sinner. The other person is already at a disadvantage before you have even met them. Instead of focusing on what a great cook your friend is, you are remembering how she always shows up late. Instead of learning a backstory of tenderness, you declare road rage and anger for a fellow driver!
Jesus might have said, “Love your neighbor, despite the fact that you are a sinner.” Even though I am a sinner, God has been loving me. God’s love came to me, and it comes to you. So, I will so love you. This is what changes the world.
The second part of the half-truth is where the real problem arises. Throughout the gospels, Jesus eats with drunkards, prostitutes, thieves, traitors, adulterers, and tax frauds. He breaks bread, heals, calls disciples, but never says, “I love you, and hate your sin.” Jesus always speaks of forgiveness. Even to the woman described as being “caught in sin,” Jesus says, “your sins are forgiven.” Jesus only demonstrated a hatred of sins with hypocritical religious leaders.
There is an old cartoon of St. Peter at the pearly gates of heaven with someone who has just died. The person stands in front of St. Peter awaiting admission. Peter peruses the Book of Life and says, “You were a person of faith; however, you forgot the ‘not being a jerk about it’ part.” Our faith encourages us to be people of faith without being jerks about it.
Some have used “Love should be shown without pretending, hate evil, and hold onto what is good.” (Romans 12:9). Paul is telling us about the sin in our own lives! Listen: be genuine in your love towards others; hate anything that pulls you away from your focus on Christ; and remain in Jesus. It was Billy Graham who famously: said, ““It is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict, God’s job to judge and my job to love.”
Are there times when you and I should speak up about the problem of sin? Of course, there are! Sins that harm and oppress, do evil and injustice, like abuse and neglect, indifference and human trafficking and more. Our baptismal vows call us to that! Generally, these are not the times, when we use the phrase, “Love the sinner, hate the sin.” Most commonly, this phrase has been used in conversations around human sexuality.
As a Church, and as a denomination, we have been divided on same-sex marriage. Our scriptures contain a handful of passages from the Old and New Testament of that clearly disapprove of same-sex practices that contextualized and specific to the biblical era. Some acts would even be condemned today. Increasingly Christian leaders, myself included, question whether the few passages in Old and New Testament convey God’s will for God’s gay and lesbian children. Sexual orientation was not understood at the time of the writing of the Bible. Some suggest the verses that speak of same-sex acts are similar to those that regulate slavery, insist women ought not speak or teach in church. Both of which we identity as cultural norms of the time, rather than the will of God. But I do have many friends and church members who hold a more conservative view than I on this.
And what we agree on is a call to love. Yes, there is sin. When sin is inflicted, it brings out harm. We must speak out. Become aware of our sin and invite God to forgive us, heal us, transform us. We also may not see as God sees.
The primary truth is “Love the sinner, hate the sin” stops with the first word “Love.” When you and I love one another and focus on striving to lay aside our own sin, we end up living with incredible grace and humility towards others. May we become the kind of Jesus followers who receive mercy, in order to extend that very mercy.
This is the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God. Amen.
(1) Saint Augustine (Bishop of Hippo), Letters 211-270 (Vol. II/4) A Translation for the 21st Century): New York Press, 2005, 24.
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 7:1-5
“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.”
Gospel Lesson: Luke 18:10-14
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Meditations For Your Week
Sunday, May 26 ~ Saturday, June 1
Sunday: “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgement you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.” Matthew 7:1-5. Where are you being called to silence, instead of judgement, compassion over judgment, and advocacy over disengagement?
Monday: “Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbour, “Let me take the speck out of your eye”, while the log is in your own eye?” Matthew 7:3-4. Consider where you can be reflective of your growing edges as you find yourself judging others. We often see other’s failings, because we ourselves, are familiar with that same challenge.
Tuesday: “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbour’s eye” Matthew 7: 5. What action do you need to take in order to bring yourself in line with the love of Christ?
Wednesday: “‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector.” Luke 18:10. Pray in sacred spaces. When you enter a sacred space, you close out the concerns of the day, so that you can hear God’s voice.
Thursday: “The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” Luke 18:11-12. Where do you need confess looking down on the lives of others and being glad that it was not you?
Friday: “But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” Luke 18:13. God has mercy for all of us. Pray for humility as you enter prayer to experience God’s grace.
Saturday: “I tell you; this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’” Luke 18:14. Consider the most important commandment Jesus taught was love for God and neighbor.