“The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright.”
de·test
/dəˈtest/
verb: detest
1. dislike intensely
Another dictionary says detest means to hate. Whatever you do with the definition it is obvious that one side does not care for the other. God’s followers are not marked by their hatred, at least they should not be. Over the years the saying love the sinner but hate the sin has fallen on disfavor both inside and outside the Kingdom of God. The reason I believe has more to do with how it was used as a weapon or an excuse for mistreatment of the non Christian more than the error of the statement. For the follower of God it actually represents a powerful truth. It has been taught poorly and practiced even worse. Another resource puts it this way, “Not his person, but his actions, his unrighteous actions, his ungodly life and conversation; which a man, holy, just, and good, loathes and abhors, and cannot forbear expressing his abhorrence of; and therefore shuns his company, and will have no fellowship with him.” (Bible Stufy Tools). That is a very uncomfortable statement for many believers and in all honesty if you are comfortable with it that might indicate a problem as well. It is true but should at least make us sad. The problem is more that many believers really struggle to flesh it out with compassion. Today love, truly love, those trapped in sin and pray for them. #BeTheEdge
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Romans 12:9 NIV
