Is it "Love the sinner hate the sin" or "Love the sinner forgive the sin"?

Question

Repenting aside we will leave that for the sinner to decide later..but which of the above statements is the morally superior one?

Answer 1

"LOVE THE SINNER; HATE THE SIN."

This is a cop out. And, though often quoted, it's not in the Bible. It's true that God tells us to love one another as he loved us. It's also true that God says he hates sin. But Fundamentalists have taken these two diverse statements and made them into a defense for mistreating homosexuals, abortion doctors, and, heaven forbid, women who want equal rights. When attacked for their judgmental attitudes against gays, for instance, this phrase becomes the catch-all defense as to why their actions are okay in "God's eyes." By denying a gay man a right to equal and fair treatment under the law, Fundamentalists aren't "hating" the sinner - they're merely showing their displeasure with the sin. By using the national media to claim that gays are sick and need healing, they aren't showing "hate" - they're merely trying to "love" them by showing they need to be "healed."

Fundamentalists forget that we're not told to "hate the sin." We're told to forgive the sin. In Matthew 18:23-35 Christ tells of a slave who was forgiven his debts (just as Christians are forgiven their sins). This slave, however, refused to forgive the debt of a fellow slave (just as Christ asks us to forgive our fellow sinners). Christ called that slave "Evil." All who call themselves "Christian" absolutely must forgive the sins of any other sinner - even the homosexual. The moment they don't, the moment they start brandishing the "love the sinner but hate the sin" argument, they are themselves condemned by the very God they say they serve.

Answer 2

We have to love the sinner and hate the sin. Only God can forgive the sin, right? Of course, we can forgive the sinner, if the sin was against us to begin with. Did that make sense?

Answer 3

I feel it is "Love the sinner forgive the sin".
We all are sinner's, it could be in our thoughts, what we say or what we do. Only God is perfect. We must forgive. But sometimes it is very hard. I pray then I continue to try to show love to the person. But I do not feel that I have to be around them all the time.

Answer 4

It is love the sinner and hate the sin God is the only one who can forgive sin

Answer 5

God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believth in Him shall not perish- (spiritually) die, but have everlasting life! (John 3:16)........to answer your question: "love the sinner hate the sin and love the sinner forgive the sin is in conjunction together!......Now, that doesn't mean if you don't receive the Lord that you go to heaven anyway just because of the two questions you asked!.......(Psalms 139: 8).......no one will get away with anything!....everyone will be judged by GOD concerning what they do & say on this earth, whether it be right or wrong! (1Pet. 4-19) (Romans 2: 3)........

Answer 6

The former. Every sin ultimately hurts the sinner. You forgive after, but if you don't hate it while it's going on, you just let them persist in it, letting someone you love continue to do damage to himself.
The two aren't exclusive, you should both hate and forgive sins. If you didn't hate sins, you wouldn't even be forgiving, you'd just be excusing.

Answer 7

both statement are equal I would say
both statements have to do with unconditional love,and a person has to forgive in-order to be forgiven.if you forgive someone that has committed a sin against you,you forgive the sinner not the sin.

Answer 8

Love the sinner forgive the sin. But we can't judge another person anyway so it would be love the person let Jehovah forgive.

Answer 9

Really, it's both. We are to hate sin, because God hates sin. But we are also commanded to forgive sin, forgive one another. Jesus taught that is we do not forgive each other, than how can we expect God to forgive us?

"Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us."

When we forgive one another, we are at the same time loving one another. Jesus told us, commanded us to love one another. We are all sinners, we screw up every day. And God knows this. But He still loves us, and forgives us, which is why we are to do the same, love the sinner, but hate and forgive the sin.

God bless,

Danny

Answer 10

I believe it is "Love the sinner, Forgive the Sin"
God believes in forgiveness and wouldn't want to see people hating each other. I am always hearing about forgiveness in my church so...