Quote from Sandy:
Some people are harder to love than others. I've heard that we are to hate sin but love the sinner. That is not easy to do. There is a very thin line between what people do and who they are. How can you separate the two? That is part of my struggle right now. God's got some work to do in me yet.
[/b]
You bring up some very interesting points Sandy.
Some people do seem so much harder to love than others, and like you say, it is often very difficult to love the sinner. But there are several factors at play here that kind of put things into perspective if looked at from a different angle.
First, we only respond to love and kindness because God has so graciously put these emotions in our hearts. However, it the same way God has placed evil, terror and hatred in the hearts of others and to even more, just cold indifference. We must never forget that it is God that is directing our every step, and the steps of others - even the evil. Why then do we fill anger to such as these? Should we not feel sorrow? I feel we should feel neither; instead we should listen to God in our hearts and thanking him for allowing us to "see" and "feel" the difference between good and evil.
I am convinced that we have only an inkling of "good" and likewise, we cannot know true "evil," although it is reasonable that we are closer to evil because we are of our father the devil.
Jhn 8:44
- Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
So why has God chosen us to see the difference between good and evil? Surely, it is not so that we can judge, look down on or hate; but rather, so that we may learn.
Of course, the line gets a little blurry here: Are we learning of our own accord or is God allowing us to learn? Well God must take the credit, although sometimes the lessons are tough and we feel that we have gone through almost hell, before the light begins to shine. That leaves only one thing, the evil doers are helping us learn of God and the things to come, for they are doing the will of God for our benefit.
For what other reason can their be? There is nothing to be gained by hating such as these, other than realizing that such feelings exist and then thanking God for this knowledge and then asking him for a loving heart and understanding spirit.
Sandy I hope this makes sense
With Love,
Darren