Aug. 12

Read Jude 1

^22-23Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven. (The Message)

The letter of Jude doesn't take long to read but it should make us pause to think. Jude spends the first part of his letter reminding his audience that every age has had those who have opposed the work of God. Our current state is no different than it was in the times of Jude and the history that he recounts. At the end of the letter Jude urges patience and grace with those who go astray. This is where the phrase, "hate the sin, but love the sinner" comes from. The problem with the phrase and the way we normally practice it is that we say in one way or another that we will love the person who we see as sinning when they quit sinning. In most cases the person we name as a "sinner" does not consider themselves as such. They are simply doing what they want and what feels right to them at that given time. So when we say we love them but hate their activity they hear that we really don't love them. Those we look upon as sinners often feel like we avoid them and don't take the time to see them as real people but rather as projects to be changed.

Jude is very clear that we should not embrace sin no matter who it is that commits that sin. But I believe Jude also invites us to examine our own attitudes of love and concern for others. Do we have patience and mercy for others? Do we treat others with respect and love no matter their choices? These are not easy issues to deal with because what we might find is that we are changed by our examination and change is not always something that we are comfortable with.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• How do you best experience being loved by someone else that is not a family member?
• What behaviors do you find most repulsive?
• When you see someone engaged in that behavior what is your response?
• How might you practice loving someone whose behavior you do not agree with?