Our society today has this common, two-sided belief. On one hand, if you don't embrace views different than your own, you are a hater. Well, you either hate or you fear. On the other hand, if you love someone, you will endorse and encourage their life choices. You know, kind of a mirrored proposition. It's taken as true by many (most?). This is why so many who disagree with, say, homosexual behavior or transgender proponents are classified as "haters." They are "homophobic" or "transphobic" -- haters. It's impossible to look at the news or social media without concluding this is true.
There is, I would suggest, one tiny problem with this notion. It's not true. And, without defending one side, let's just look at the proponents to see if it's true. We have this premise: to fail to embrace opposing views is to hate, and hate is bad. On that premise, we see that those who don't embrace homosexual behavior or transgender ideology (as examples) are haters. The problem is this: those who are claiming this are, therefore, declaring themselves "haters." How? Well, they certainly refuse to embrace the views and choices of those who oppose what they are promoting. That, by their definition, is hate. And, to be fair, I would guess that a sizable number of them would embrace that accusation. "Yes, we hate those who don't embrace this position." But why is their hate deserved but the "hate" of the others not? Why is their hate good, but other hate is not?
I intend no answer to those questions. I don't believe the premise. I would argue that it is certainly possible to love someone -- love and not hate -- without embracing everything they say and do. In fact, I would argue that it is extremely common in any relationship. There is something you don't embrace in those you love. You put up with it. You tolerate it. You even encourage them to change it, perhaps. But you don't simply hate them for it. And, I'm sure, there are those who do. There are those who will hate another for something with which they simply disagree. But it isn't mandatory. It is possible and common to love someone without embracing everything about them. So you will have to decide. Is it hate to fail to embrace everything? And is hate bad? If "yes," then you are a hater, and that's bad. If not, don't hate because someone else simply doesn't embrace something you embrace. That makes no sense.
3 comments:
I would hope as Christians we would affirm that one can hate sin but love the sinner by trying to help them not to sin, or we're out of luck with God.
One of the points I get from Stan’s writing today is that it is not possible in today’s society to “hate the sin but love the sinner,” since “loving the sinner” requires us to accept or approve the sinful behavior/identities of others; otherwise we are “haters.” The only choice that our culture seems to present to us is “love the sinner and his/her sin” or “hate the sin and therefore also the sinner”--neither of which would express God’s love, of course.
I think it is human nature to feel strongly--even zealously--about one’s own point of view. Some people’s temperaments lean towards being fervent and passionate about the issues on their minds, while others are more easy-going, “live & let live” types. Essentially, I think we all believe our POV is the right one and also that both sides consider their opponents intolerant to some degree (and there are “extremists” on both sides of the spectrum to lend fodder for that view). History bears out the presence of intolerance and a pervasively combative mindset, going back many, many centuries to all kinds of rebellions, uprisings, revolutions, and even so-called “Holy Wars”--all involving pitting one group’s POV and agenda against another’s. It just seems to be the way of the world--for those with misguided agendas as well as those upholding God’s truth; presumably the Lord is sustaining our ability to hold our ground through it all. Even at this blog, Stan is able to present his perspectives freely, and others of us may participate in a friendly discussion without censor. I am so grateful this is possible right now--who knows how long that ability will continue?! (Not forever, I know that!)
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