"Hate the sin, not the sinner" Christians, do you understand that the phrase is insulting...?

Question

to gays no matter a how well intentioned you may be?

I appreciate and respect all the Christians that accept us as regular people worthy of the same freedoms and privileges as everyone else. At the same time, this cliché says something other than what many intend.

Being gay is the essence of me. “Hating the sin and not the sinner” still translates to the reality that I'm hated since being gay is who I am. I am much more than just my sexuality, but to call my essence sin, and to say you hate that sin, is also to say you hate me.

The phrase is like saying, “I like you. I just hate who you are.”

I'm trying to provide a little insight, and also to learn how you would feel if you heard this said to you all the time?

PS – the question is NOT about whether you “approve” of me, because quite frankly, the question is not directed to prejudice people.

judith r and a couple others - the thing you fail to grasp is that hiding in the closet only lead to death and prejudice. I don't like advertising my sexuality. I just resent being a second class citizen in my own country more.

Answer 1

It's like watching a dog try to open a door isn't it? They rationalize their hate or just miss the point altogether. I find that phrase very insulting and as you saw in my question when you turn it around on them, they go off the deep end.

Answer 2

noted. As a practice and not considered as a statement to be made in the presence of one such as yourself (which is the intention of the teaching), this statement has merit. b4 it was considered OK to hate the sinner, and if you look into the past you find it was the practice for a long time.Defining yourself by a limited act is not a good idea either becuase you are probably an author, artist, cook, teacher, daughter, learner, advocate, and countless other things.

Choosing to be soley something that trips the gag reflex of some is probably not psychologically healthy. It is not the desire of people to have that refelex. If I see two guys kissing it does exactly that. It sets off an involutary puke refelex. Even if I like a show and the plot and actors, and appreciate that it is only a fantasy, still it trips my gag refelex. People do not often tell others about that reflex but there are many who experience it. Note a severe reduction of males kissing on TV this year. It has been found people turn the channel when this is pushed into there homes. I do not think it is something that is going to disappear because if same sex is a preferance from the womb be assured the gag reflex is as well. You live in a real world and this is not something that will be hidden much longer if people keep getting exposed so as a group same sex people should understand that for now the pendulum has swung as far in their direction of acceptance as it is likely to any time soon, and to add energy to that pendulum action of humane affairs will cause the resulting change in dorection. I have been a keen observer of human behavior for 60 years and mark my words, it is a smart person who proceeds very slowly when pushing for social change.

Answer 3

I don't know if you really want to know this answer to your question or if you are just venting. If you are just venting, that's OK. but I will presume that you would like an answer for the time being. I am far from perfect and have done and I am sure my eight year old daughter can tell you still do lots of things that I should not. I say that I want to live righteously but constantly fall short...often way short. I still wish for my family to love me and support me when I am doing things that are not right. I don't however want my friends, my husband, my parents, and so forth to sugar coat it and act like every thing I do is right when they know that it is wrong. Because they love me they tend to point out a lot of my shortcomings. They just want me to be the best I can be. They want me to enjoy life and all it has to offer with out the guilt that comes with sin. I realize that when it comes to Christians saying that they love the person living a homosexual life style but they do not like the life style that they are living it offends those who are living it. I find a lot of the comments made on this website regarding Christians to be offensive as well. It is just a matter of what you believe. As a Christian one of the beliefs is that the Holy Bible is the written word of God and that it is infallible. The Holy Bible is clear on the issue of homosexuality. It is also clear on a myriad of other things that it condemns as sinful. If this is not your belief system than no worries. You are fine living just the way you are. Just as you have your beliefs so do others. The way I see it the people on this section of Yahoo!Answers have very little tolerance for one another no matter what there beliefs. So, to love the sinner is to really love them and accept that they are who they are and they are where they are in their life. You don't have to agree that all they do is right but you support them with love, comfort and encouragement when they need it. I hope this clears things up for you a bit. If not just keep on trying to figure it out.

Answer 4

I believe you are taking things a little out of proportion. A person is not confined to just one label. For example: if I lie then you could say I'm a liar, if I murder then you could say I'm a murderer,etc. When you say that is who you are then you are sort of saying that is all you are. I don't really like labels and I see people as people. I just consider you more as a person practicing homosexuality. I know the real you is more than just a gay person. I'm a follower of Christ and the Bible says that the practice of homosexuality is sinful, but that same Bible says that all have sinned; it also tells us to love one another. The real matter at hand (in which all other matters of phrases adopted by groups seem trivial) is whether or not you believe that what you are doing is sinful. I believe in a standard of Absolute Truth and I base it on the Bible. I'm sure you have commited other sins according to the Bible and those alone would condemn you to Eternal Death if not by the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Don't forget the same Bible which says your conduct is sinful also says you can obtain forgiveness and can spend eternity in Heaven. God looks upon the heart and I can by no means condemn you to Hell, but instead can share the words, believing with faith, was sent by God to deliver His message of love. Look at the rest of the Bible. Are you willing to deny everything else in the Bible and reject any means of salvation simply because you disagree with a fraction of what's in it? With a sincere heart, mind, and soul knowing that I don't know everything I will pray for you to my God who does. God Bless, and thanks for taking the time to read my response.

Answer 5

they're so judgemental...... It's just another contradiction among their book of tricks. If I could count the number of contradictions from Old and New Testament and Modern Religious Dogma I'd have an infinite number.

I mean come on, GALILEO was thrown and sentenced to LIFE in a prison tower because he proved the bible wrong.... he said that the Earth revolves around the sun. 400 years after his death the Pope pardoned him. But I highly doubt Galileo cared about that long after his death.

Amazing what fundie's will do to other human beings. Fuzzy Logic Doesn't work.

I appreciate any and all THUMBS DOWN just so I can prove that you Christians are EVIL people with your brainwashing.

Answer 6

I choose to be who I am. It wouldn't bother me if you keep telling me that you hate christianity(the act) but love christians(the people). Oh wait, people say it all the time.

I have lied many times. To say that "being gay is who you are" is like saying that "being a liar is who I am" where i prefer to look at it as I am a person who makes mistakes, while you want to justify your mistakes by labelling yourself with your sinful actions.

I think the key to stopping hate crimes is to understand that by harming those who do acts of homosexuality that you are hurting a person, with more to life than what some people might disagree with.

I do understand where you are coming from, but those who use this phrase are trying to find other ways to connect with you.
They are for the most part trying to exept you without losing a part of who they are.

Answer 7

The Bible says that God is AGAINST the practice. Stop the practice and God will love you as a person.
See the difference.
(1 Corinthians 6:9) What! Do YOU not know that unrighteous persons will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be misled. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men,
(1 Timothy 1:10) fornicators, men who lie with males, kidnappers, liars, false swearers, and whatever other thing is in opposition to the healthful teaching

(2 Peter 3:9) Jehovah is not slow respecting his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with YOU because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance.


Simply put, the practice is not acceptable.

Answer 8

Seriously.. cumon guys.. do you really buy that?. This is what i meant that True Christians following Jesus holy books have a huge prob in your hands. You must be doing something to help your fellowmates. How could you allowed such a thing. Help the muslims to spread the Word of God be it your way we don care.

Islam Extremely forbids homosexuality (other then murderer or any sins) for simple reasons. Man with man relationship is abnormal behaviour. If God really meant that homosexuality is right then why did HE created women then? (visi-versa). if you make it right what is not right why not legalise murderer and rapist then. If the boundary of sins is risen then what else could human do. legalise Man marrying ANIMAL??! Drinking pee and eating ****? Oh Cummon you guys fellow Brothers and Sisters in Christians. You do need to realise theres a big problem in your hands that needs to settle.

Just my freedom of speech!

Answer 9

Stacia,
I think for myself. God and I have had an understanding since I was very little. I don't believe your choice of loved one is a sin, by any definition. Don't laugh- " a lot of my friends are gay." That's not silly, here. It is true. So is- "a lot of my friends are not-gay."
No sin here. Not in my book. I don't apply the admonition to hate sin to this instance. Ignore those who profess to love people and then, do other than that. Look for those who understand that we are all connected. Hating you would be like hating me.
No point in that. No point at all.

Answer 10

I'm far more concerned with the conservative christian right preaching hatred for whole groups of Americans blaming them like the Nazis blamed the Jews for everything that goes wrong in this country. Some of these so called men of god, are calling for the extermination of the whole LGBT community.
Tammi Dee