Are You a Levitican?

[Todd Erickson]

This is from a recent blog post by John Scalzi on his blog, "whatever (http://www.scalzi.com/whatever/002675.html)". An interesting statement from a non-Christian on how he views Christians...

[Wilson Deaton]

This is from a recent blog post by John Scalzi on his blog, "whatever (http://www.scalzi.com/whatever/002675.html)". An interesting statement from a non-Christian on how he views Christians...

A well written article... This question was key, "Do you use the Bible to illuminate your love or justify your hate?"

Wilson

[Shea Zellweger]

Interesting, for sure. I wonder if someone could write one about Paulines :)

[Rich Schmidt]

This is from a recent blog post by John Scalzi on his blog, "whatever (http://www.scalzi.com/whatever/002675.html)". An interesting statement from a non-Christian on how he views Christians...

A recent blog post from February 24, 2004?

[Greg Farra]

Interesting, for sure. I wonder if someone could write one about Paulines :)

Or 'Red Letter' Christians!

My brother's dispensational church holds that only Paul's writings are relevent in this 'dispensation of grace'. How sad. They also don't do the sacraments, sad as well.

[Shea Zellweger]

Or 'Red Letter' Christians!

My brother's dispensational church holds that only Paul's writings are relevent in this 'dispensation of grace'. How sad. They also don't do the sacraments, sad as well.

you could point out that Paul gave instructions for at least one Sacrament in 1 Cor 11...

[Greg Farra]

you could point out that Paul gave instructions for at least one Sacrament in 1 Cor 11...

Thanks, Shea. You're on top of it! But I'm not sure they'd be swayed by facts.

[Ray Lepkowicz]

Todd,
The sad truth is that the writer is correct, that when we stand up and act like the world we are Levitican's. I have to catch myself sometimes, not because I call people names but because sometimes I momentarily judge people based on their looks or ways. Then the spirit gets my attention and reminds me that we are to love others not judge them or hate them. We are to hate the sin not the sinner.

[Todd Erickson]

It is impossible to have hate in our hearts for the actions of a person without also attaching hate to the originator of those actions. The only reasonable decision is to avoid hate.

[Marsha Lynn]

It is impossible to have hate in our hearts for the actions of a person without also attaching hate to the originator of those actions. The only reasonable decision is to avoid hate.

OK, "thanks" isn't enough here. I fully agree that we have a terrible time separating hatred of sin from hatred of sinners.

On the other hand, I think it's possible to hate the consequences of sin and how those consequences tear apart the lives of sinners while still loving the sinner. Thus, I can hate divorce and the consequences of divorce while my heart grieves for those who are caught up in the dynamics that lead to divorce. I can hate abuse while mourning the terrible legacy of sin that leaves people so broken in their relationships that they pass on their own suffering to others. I can hate intolerance toward others while trying to figure out the fears and panic that lie behind the intolerance.

I think the key to this a deep unshakable conviction that sin is always a symptom and perpetuating force of something terribly broken in the life of the sinner.

Marsha

[Dale Cozby]

It is impossible to have hate in our hearts for the actions of a person without also attaching hate to the originator of those actions. The only reasonable decision is to avoid hate.

Is it possible to detest a leech on my son's body and want to kill it without wanting to kill my son to whom it is attached?
Is it possible for me to want to have the doctor cut out a cancer from my wife's body, that her own body produced without hating my wife as the originator of the cancerous cells? MUST I blame her for the cancer within? blame her for a faulty diet or lifestyle that led to it? I think not.
So it is with any action that takes a loved one by deception or desire and does them or others harm.

[Shea Zellweger]

Is it possible to detest a leech on my son's body and want to kill it without wanting to kill my son to whom it is attached?
Is it possible for me to want to have the doctor cut out a cancer from my wife's body, that her own body produced without hating my wife as the originator of the cancerous cells? MUST I blame her for the cancer within? blame her for a faulty diet or lifestyle that led to it? I think not.
So it is with any action that takes a loved one by deception or desire and does them or others harm.

I understand what you're saying here, but I don't think the metaphor carries. A leech, cancer, auto-immune disease, etc. etc. are all things that people do not desire, do not seek, and are more than glad to be rid of. Their selfish/sinful desires are not. I don't know that I can agree with Todd that it's impossible to hate actions without hating the originator, but I do know that rather than trying to have just enough hate in my heart without having too much, I'd rather concern myself with showing and living love.

Now, here is where I point out that "hate" in the biblical sense appears to be an absence of love. In the NIV, for example, the verb "to like" is only used in regard to carnal things such as appetite and sexual desire. The idea of "liking" a person appears to be foreign from the biblical text. So, if it's a straight choice between love and hate, I cannot honestly say I love my brother or sister's choice to murder, so I would suggest the only other option is in fact to hate it.

[Paul DeBaufer]

Is it possible to detest a leech on my son's body and want to kill it without wanting to kill my son to whom it is attached?


I am sorry Dale, and I know you won't agree, but I have to say these are false analogy. Your analogy would work better in support of hatred of sin, period. But what I think Todd is saying is that we, humans are pretty much incapable of separating the behavior from the organism. Can you hate that the leech attacks your son without hating the leech itself? Probably in theory, but can you in practice?

[Todd Erickson]

Is it possible to detest a leech on my son's body and want to kill it without wanting to kill my son to whom it is attached?
Is it possible for me to want to have the doctor cut out a cancer from my wife's body, that her own body produced without hating my wife as the originator of the cancerous cells? MUST I blame her for the cancer within? blame her for a faulty diet or lifestyle that led to it? I think not.
So it is with any action that takes a loved one by deception or desire and does them or others harm.

Do I blame the leech or the cancer cell? They're only doing what is natural for them. I take the action necessary to remove them and ameloriate the situation. Hatred for them is simply giving them unnecessary power in my life.

When we live lives where we have to blame something, we are, in effect, seeking control.