why do christians say hate the sin love the sinner when the proper quote is forgive the sin love the sinner?

Question

"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 1

No... you don't need to "ask for forgiveness first." Christians are supposed to forgive no matter what, not require others to ask them like it's some favor. The idea is that you forgive not out of the kindness of your holy little heart, but that you forgive out of the idea that you are no better than anyone else.

Good point.

Answer 2

Your logic is a bit off and you don't have a right to speak for Christians. Are you a Christian basher?
In my case, the Southern Baptist Convention says that homosexuality is not per biblical teachings. However, they do not go any further with the statement. Even the assistant chairwoman said her brother is a homosexual.
There are some preachers like Pat Robertson who are adamant about trouncing the homosexuals. But the pastor of my Southern Baptist church is a homosexual. He does not speak out for or against homosexuals. Our last pastor says homosexuals are God's children; they are to be loved, according to Christian values.
I am a Christian; my best friend was a homosexual. When he died, the church was so full; half the people who went to his funeral did not get into the church.
Actually Baptist doctrine teaches us to hate sin and love our fellow man. You need to go back to the drawing board; because you are wrong with your statements.

Answer 3

I think the context of that statement is that GOD hates the sin, but loves the sinner. I agree that many "Christians" have used this as a way of mistreating fellow mankind (such as the horrible Phelps clan), but that doesn't make it any less true. We are supposed to love the sinner to the point of snatching him out of the imminent flames of hell with the power of the Gospel, no matter what their orientation, political beliefs, or ethnicity. God is the One who transforms hearts and minds once the sinner has been cleansed. We do not have that power--we cannot forgive sin--all we can do is give them the message of the Gospel and pray for them.

Answer 4

Because sin was never forgiven. Sin cost a very high price in justice when God tortured and executed a piece of Himself to save us. Only people are forgiven but sin always warrants a terribly high price of agony on the human race and on God. So sin is to be hated for what it costs the world, but people are to be loved and forgiven as God has done. Your not going to love the act of some punk mercilessly kicking the brains in on a puppy while it squeals helplessly. That is sin how can we love that act done on the puppy, but you can still forgive and love the purpetrator of that act later if there is repentance. This forgiveness can only occur because of the shed blood of Jesus who paid the penalty for that heinous act upon the puppy, thereby offerring freedom to the purpetrator.

Answer 5

personally where do we have the right to forgive sin. We should hate sin. It is the one thing that keeps us from God. The one thing that caused Christ to have to come to Earth and die for our sins. Should we forgive things that are done to us yes. Should we forget them no. If we forget the bad things, just dulls the great things that God has put in our lives. sin is a sin Christ blood is the only thing that can wash it away. love the sinner to the lord yes! but do not condone his/her sin, do not let him/her think that it is OK to keep sinning. Make the fact aware that Christ hates sin, and that we are to be Christ like.

Answer 6

The phrase is not scriptural, but the principle is. God hates sin, and that is why sin will be destroyed some day. On the other hand, God loves sinners and sent Jesus to die in our place so that we could have an opportunity to enter into the heavenly kingdom.

Answer 7

---I think we should forgive the sin and love the sinner, but I still think we should hate the sin. If God hates sin, and I want to be like him, shouldn't I hate it too?
---I see your point however that using the phrase to act hatefully is wrong. The phrase, "hate the sin but love the sinner" should be used to motivate people to reach out to those in sin, not to condemn them.

Answer 8

Neither quote is in the Bible. such as cleanliness is next to godliness, people quote that and it's not in the Bible. Man did what Jesus said he would do: 'Teach for doctrine the commandments of men" They have done as the Pharisee and Sadducee, made their own teachings.

Answer 9

The important thing is that if you cannot forgive someone who has wronged you, dont go to Jesus for His forgivenss until you do.

Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

Answer 10

You need to ask for forgiveness first.

Never accept sin. I will not accept homosexual activity I can accept the perosn with out accepting what they do. Get over it.