Just a thought

[This_person]

 

[Yooper]

Bad theology. God does, in fact, "hate." As in, "hates sin" or "hates injustice" (etc.).

The quote may be a case of "baby Christians" being superficial, but it is certainly a case of really bad proof-texting (i.e., cherry picking a line to use for, in this case, political purposes). On par with the hack line that misapplies "Christians shouldn't judge."

The middle line - about finding a good church - is a spot-on self-own of the sign carrier.

--- End of line (MCP)

 

[This_person]

Bad theology. God does, in fact, "hate." As in, "hates sin" or "hates injustice" (etc.).

The quote may be a case of "baby Christians" being superficial, but it is certainly a case of really bad proof-texting (i.e., cherry picking a line to use for, in this case, political purposes). On par with the hack line that misapplies "Christians shouldn't judge."

The middle line - about finding a good church - is a spot-on self-own of the sign carrier.

--- End of line (MCP)

Not sure I fully agree. While I DO fully agree that God does, in fact, "hate" things like sin, injustice, un-righteousness, etc., the idea of the sign (as I see it, it's not like it's my sign ) is that God does not hate people. He certainly does not want US to hate people.

I think it's obvious God has things He hates:

There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, He hates with a passion.

But, hating the sin and hating the sinner (especially in the name of God) seems to be what God is also against:

Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor; I am the Lord. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the Lord.

I took the line as not thinking we are to use God as an excuse for hating, or judging, or rebuking our fellow man. There is a HUGE difference between hating the sin and hating the sinner. There is a HUGE difference between judging the person and judging the sin.

 

[Yooper]

Not sure I fully agree. While I DO fully agree that God does, in fact, "hate" things like sin, injustice, un-righteousness, etc., the idea of the sign (as I see it, it's not like it's my sign ) is that God does not hate people. He certainly does not want US to hate people.

I think it's obvious God has things He hates:



But, hating the sin and hating the sinner (especially in the name of God) seems to be what God is also against:



I took the line as not thinking we are to use God as an excuse for hating, or judging, or rebuking our fellow man. There is a HUGE difference between hating the sin and hating the sinner. There is a HUGE difference between judging the person and judging the sin.

Okay. But the sign doesn't say what you're saying. I think you're making the jump the sign hopes you make: that if I use "God hates" I musy be hating people and not the sin.

My point is this: what if my sign said, "God hates injustice"? Do I need to find a new church?

--- End of line (MCP)

 

[This_person]

Okay. But the sign doesn't say what you're saying. I think you're making the jump the sign hopes you make: that if I use "God hates" I must be hating people and not the sin.

Fair point. But, the sign DID cause me to make that jump, so, I'd say it was effective.

Though, I will say that if a church focuses on hate, it's probably not a great church and one should consider that. My point being that your question about injustice - while valid, to be sure - is that (in my humble opinion) it's better for a church to teach what justice actually is (how is it spelled, "mishpat"?) than what injustice is. As in, "live your life like this", not "don't live your life like this." Positivity, not negativity.

 

[SamSpade]

You realize that the sign is a direct shot at the Westboro Baptist Church which goes around with large signs declaring "God Hates Fags".

I've been to churches that have very narrow focus - and others that have pretty much NO focus. I've been to a few where a quick examination is that their theology is all about how THEY have it right and everyone else is wrong - and a couple who seem to think everyone else is just ok.

I've learned that a lot of what I need to be as a Christian is WHO I need to be, and not WHERE I need to be.
The best churches I think, help me get there.

 

[Yooper]

You realize that the sign is a direct shot at the Westboro Baptist Church which goes around with large signs declaring "God Hates Fags".

Maybe so. But nothing in the photo states that. Nor does the OP. Just working with what was presented.

--- End of line (MCP)

 

[gemma_rae]

God hates the sin, not the sinner, but he gave us free will to see if we would live by his law. Jesus is lord, and the path to salvation, follow him.

Written signs are written by humans, which everyone would be best to ignore.

Happy Weekend!