As a Christian, I am called to love and live as Christ did. While that is easier at some times than others, I often struggle with two things...our responsibility to lead others to Christ, without ostracizing someone to the point of feeling hated (a primary example would be the homosexual community), and standing up for what we believe in, without wavering.
I think the phrase "hate the sin, not the sinner" is particularly important to remember. As I look back over my adult years, and I think about my faith, I recall the specific frustration of watching Christians being portrayed (and rightfully so in many arenas) as haters. Certain people came out so strongly against homosexuality that I feared there would be no place for them to go when they were looking for Christ. Why would they want to enter into a house of God when they are being told how evil they are? I actually heard a Christian say that no one should own an American Express card because Ellen DeGeneres is a company spokesperson. If that were true, we shouldn't buy anything, because every human being sins. Why must we focus on one or two sins? I overeat, so people shouldn't be my friends, or come to my youth group?
Danny Gokey (American Idol finalist and Christian) recently said it so well on his blog,
"Because I was very open about my faith in God, people speculated that I hated certain groups of people whose lifestyles or beliefs differed from mine. But in fact it is because of my faith that I have learned that love is unconditional and it goes beyond lifestyle, beliefs and any limitation that we as humans tend to put on it."
Yes, we have a responsibility as Christians to encourage others to live as Christ would want us to, but there's a difference between loving someone to Christ and beating it into them. Christ let people know when they were making bad choices, but he showed them love and compassion in the process.
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