Why are we as Christians more known for what we are against rather what we are for? It may sound the same on the surface, because if you stand for something, then by definition, you are against something else, but I think there is a big difference.
We are
known in our culture for what we are against, and by extension, what we say that God is
against: we are the ones who are against drinking…or dancing…or abortion…or same-sex
marriage…or gays…or whatever. You may have seen signs at various protests, on the news, or in
a quick Google search: “God hates fags,” “God hates America,” or “You’re going
to hell.” The perception in our culture is that Christians hate those whose
morals differ from ours and that we are against them.
We say
that we follow Jesus, but are we following Him when we exhibit hateful
attitudes towards people? Does God ever say that He hates people? He hates the
worship of false gods (Deut 16:21-22; 12:31). He hates a variety of behaviors:
“haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that
devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness
who pours out lies, and a person who stirs up conflict in the community” (Prov
6:18-19). I do not see any passage that says God hates gays, or divorced
people, or drunks, or anyone struggling with any number of sins and/or demons.
God loves
all people and wants all of us “to be saved and to come to
a knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4). He does want us to rid ourselves of a
variety of evil behaviors (1 Pet 2:1; Col 3:8). These behaviors include “bitterness, rage,
and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice” (Eph 4:32).
Some of these attitudes that we are to be rid of are some of the very things
we are guilty of when we are exhibiting hateful attitudes towards others. In
that same passage, we are also called to “be kind and compassionate” (Eph 4:32).
Do we
have compassion for people like Jesus? He was often filled with compassion when
He saw people with broken lives (Mark 6:34). Did He ever reach anyone by exhibiting a hateful attitude, by ostracizing them or berating them? Does
He do reach us this way? Does He kick us aside when our behavior does not meet His
expectations? Scripture says that “God’s kindness is intended to lead [us] to
repentance” (Rom 2:4). We are happy to accept this kindness, but do we extend this kindness
and grace to others? Is the phrase “hate the sin but
love the sinner” something we live out or just something say?
Maybe
the difference in how God treats sinners and how we treat them (and don’t
forget that we are them!), is that God wants people who are caught in sin to
come to Him, to repent, to become part of His family. Our concerns seem to
gravitate more toward punishment and hoping “these people” get what they
deserve. The fact is that we all deserve punishment and are in desperate need
of grace. It seems that we just don’t seem to want certain people to experience grace. We can
be for sinners, but against sin because of what it does to all of us.
I hope
that someday Christians will be known for what we are for rather than what we are against,
and that we will be seen as people who show love and compassion, who extend God’s
kindness and patience to others rather than hatred and vengeance. Of course,
this is not an easy path, but then Jesus never said following Him would be
easy.
