There is another thread onsite today dealing with issues concerning Christians and hate. It actually involves a whole church's ministry. Sometimes I feel as though the Church is like blind leading the blind. As far as I know and understand, God doesn't hate sinners. If He did, He would not have sent His son Jesus Christ to die for the redemption of the sinner. God hates and will judge sin. He will judge it in His way and in His time.
Now what is the Christian to do in the meantime? We are to live our lives according to God's Word. We are to hate sin but have a love and compassion for the sinner that enables us to reach out to them to help draw them to Christ. I really don't like to be around people who are steeped in sinful practices and I believe that for me I should distance myself from them. However, I also believe that if they are placed in my path (by God?????), I should live my life as a strong, fervent Christian and share Christ and His saving grace at any opportunity.
Since I have reached the stage when there is beginning to be more "snow on the mountain top" than in the past, (hee hee - my age
) I believe I can say that through the years I have seen many versions of Christian in the Church. Some good and some bad. Some that bring shame to the name of Christ and some that glorify Him. Because of those who don't live as I perceive they should for Christ, have I left the Church and the fellowship of like-minded believers? No. God's word instructs us to not forsake the assembly of ourselves with believers. We fellowship. We judge not. We leave it up to God to glean the wheat from the tares. We pray that non-believers will not be turned away from the faith by Christians who do not represent Christ in an honoring manner.
