how does "Hate the sin, love the sinner" rhyme with the death penalty?
Hate the sin, love the sinner. That Christian sentence always amuses me a little bit. For some reason I usually see it in answers on questions about homosexuality: "hate the homosexual acts, love the gay person". It seems to be a Christian concept that is always valid, because all sins are alike. Or?
I never see: -hate the raping of small children, love the pedophile -hate the genocide, love Hitler -hate the serial-killing, love Jeffrey Dahmer
So, uh, where does "love the sinner" end exactly? Because most Christians also seem to support the death penalty.
Anonymous2008-05-15T01:11:18Z
Favorite Answer
They'll tell you they love you while filling your veins with death. We love you, god loves you, but you must pay for your sin. The hypocrisy kills me.
Like most topics, you can find Biblical support for either side if you look hard enough. Shakespeare once wrote, “the devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.” That said, there are many passages in the Old Testament that support capital punishment, often for relatively mild offenses: - Adultery (Leviticus 20:10) - Blasphemy (Leviticus 24:16) - Breaking the Sabbath (Exodus 31:14 & 15) - Disobedient children (Exodus 21:15 & 17; Leviticus 20:9) - Homosexuality (Leviticus 20:13) - Not being a virgin on your wedding night (but only if you're a woman - Deuteronomy 22:20-21) Some people cite Romans 13:1-7, which states that all governments are sanctioned by God, and if the government dictates something – like capital punishment – then it is God’s will (one could also use this passage to legitimize abortion). However, I have yet to see a coherent reconciliation of this passage with governments like Hitler’s Germany, or Stalin’s Russia, or Pol Pot’s Cambodia, or any of the hundreds of others that were responsible for horrible atrocities throughout history. Governments are run by people, who are – inherently – imperfect. This is why the U.S. has a system of checks and balances, and why our laws are constantly changing (remember, there was a time when slavery was legal, when women couldn’t vote, when there were no child labor laws, etc.). This argument simply does not fly. The New Testament (starring Jesus) is primarily ANTI-death penalty. For example, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus praises mercy (Matthew 5:7) and rejects “an eye for an eye” (Matthew 5:38-39). James 4:12 says that GOD is the only one who can take a life in the name of justice. Romans 12:17-21 warns us against answering evil with evil, and assures us that God will see to justice in the afterlife. In John 8:7, Jesus says, "let he who is without sin cast the first stone." There are many, many practical problems with capital punishment (that I won't get into here), but purely from a moral standpoint, it is pretty clear that Jesus did not support it. True CHRISTians shouldn’t, either.
"Pull the switch, love the sinner"? ______ Being a christian doesn't mean that God doesn't want us to live by mans rules or not be subjected to man's judgments. If a person commits a crime he must pay for said crime.
You can't really compare homosexuality to those examples, because homosexuals aren't out doing those things, If they are then they are pedophiles or serial killers who also happen to be homosexuals.
Anyway everyone should be loved, and no one has the right or moral authority to dictate who should or shouldn't be loved. No human is morally just.
Think about it. Love the sinner would include the pedophiles, Dahmer, and Hitler. But they just say that phrase to cover up their intolerance of people who don't think like them.
theres 4giveness 4 EVERYONE including the pedophile,the serial killer, & even 4 Hitler..but since he's already gone there's nt anthr chance for him..but theres still a chance for u & me! Where ds love the sinner end? @ the cross..john 3:16