October 24

“If our minds are full of hatred and condemnation, this ultimately will be expressed in acts of violence and destruction and murder.  We will eventually find that we seem to have no other choice.” Daniel A. Seeger, 1986, Daily Readings from Quaker Writings, 10/7

Daniel Seeger is talking about the pacifist stance.  He warns us about condemning those who seek to settle their differences with violence such as in times of war.  He says we will harm our witness.  I have seen this with other issues as well.  Too many Christians who take a stand against immorality and the like come across as hateful toward the people who take the opposite stance.  We are cautioned to hate the sin, but not the sinner.  When I see this violated, my heart cringes because these people are hurting Christ’s message of love and forgiveness for all.  Even more than that, though, today’s reading makes it clear that these people are hurting themselves.  They are boxing themselves into a corner where when attacked they will feel they have no choice but to lash out.  This is what a condemned heart does.  On the other side, there have been people teaching tolerance of sin in the name of love.  Both sides are wrong.  We are to tolerate the sinner, but not his sin.  Churches too often go to the extreme of embracing the sinner and his sin for fear of being judgmental, while other churches kick the sinner out before they even attempt to bring him under conviction.

“Do you not know that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”  Romans 2:4b