Hate the Sin..Love...

I find it interesting as I read the coverage of Barak Obama's speech on race. Some people absolutely loved it, others, many from the republican side (or Clinton side) have been harping on the fact that while Obama clearly and completely repudiated the comments of his former pastor, he did not denounce or distance himself from the man. There are many commentators and commenters that seem to feel that Obama can not deal with this completely unless he totally divorces himself from his former pastor. Interesting... Often, Christians are criticized for not only hating the sin, but hating the sinner, or at least appearing to. They are considered narrow minded for not even considering those who have a viewpoint different from their own. This is the same thing at work. These people are demanding not only hatred for the sin, but hatred for the sinner. Because this man has expressed views or holds opinions that others (including myself) find highly objectionable, he must be repudiated, hated, abandoned. Obama compared it to renouncing his white grandmother who had loved him and raised him, but sometimes expressed racist thoughts. Can we not understand that you can love someone, even when you don't agree or accept what they say or think? I have friends who are gay, who smoke, who drink, who swear, who live promiscuously. I don't like, agree, condone, any of these things. I do love the people though. Too often I think we have failed to understand the difference between loving a person, and accepting their behavior. I can disapprove, and reprove someone who I believe is in sin. That doesn't mean I don't love them. I can love someone and still think they are very very wrong. I find it interesting that many of those people who would jump on Christians for their stand against abortion or same-sex "rights" are the same people who are urging Obama (and others) to hate the sin and hate the sinner.