Is “Hate the Sin, but Love the Sinner” Biblical?

A good friend of mine and a regular reader of ThePreachersWord texted me the other day and asked, “Does God hate the sin but love the sinner?”

“We’ve heard that all our lives,” he added. Yes, we have. But we didn’t read it in the Bible.

“Hate the sin, but love the sinner is an aphorism that may be derived from a letter by Augustine in A.D. 424 which, when translated says. “with love for mankind and hatred for sins.” The concept is also found in Mahatma Gandhi’s, autobiography, who wrote, “Hate the sin and not the sinner is a precept which, though easy enough to understand, is rarely practiced, and that is why the poison of hatred spreads in the world.”

Honestly, I feel conflicted with this old adage, but will offer a few thoughts for your consideration.  We welcome our readers’ insights as well.

#1 The Bible says God hates wickedness and the workers of iniquity.

“The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;
You hate all workers of iniquity.” (Ps. 5:5)

“”The Lord tests the righteous,
But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. (Ps. 11:3)

This may sound contradictory to John 3:16 where Jesus said, “God so loved the world.” However, Divine love is not like human love. God’s love is perfect. His love is not emotional, mushy, or an effusive infatuation. His love is a choice. A love that is in our best interest and eternal welfare. He loves us even when we don’t love him.

Yet paradoxically God is capable of loving us, while hating the wicked and wickedness at the same time. We have trouble with that.

Furthermore, God doesn’t give up on the sinner. We may dismiss someone as a lost cause, give up, and even feel bitterness toward them. God is longsuffering. Patient. And ever willing for the prodigal to return to Him.

#2 “Hate the sin but love the sinner” may be abused to give the sinner a pass.

This may be code for excusing the sin. For overlooking sin. For justifying the sin. Or maybe even redefining sinful actions as a lifestyle choice, or an urge one can’t control. So, we finally normalize and accept both the sinner and the sin.

#3 On the other hand, we may be selective in our application of “hate the sin, but love the sinner.”

Do we apply this to all wickedness? Or just those sins that are repugnant to us? All sin is abhorrent to God. The wise man offered this insight in Proverbs 6:16-19

16 These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
17 A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
19 A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren

.#4 Consider Jesus’ condemnation of sin.

It’s interesting to note Jesus’ attitude toward sinners with whom he interacted. The woman at the well (Jn. 4). The sinful woman in Simon’s house (Lk. 7:36-50). The woman caught in the act of adultery (John 8:1-12). Jesus did not excuse or soften their sinful behavior. Instead he sought to lead them out of their sin to a relationship with the Father. He treated them kindness, compassion, and respect.

Ironically, some of Jesus’ strongest words of condemnation were reserved for the hypercritical religious leaders of His day whom He called hypocrites, blind guides, white washed tombs, and children of the devil.

#5 It is difficult to separate the sin from the sinner.

Warren Wiersbe observed that “there is no such thing as ‘abstract evil’ except in dictionaries and philosophy books. Evil is not an abstraction; it’s a terrible force in this world, wrecking lives and capturing people for hell.” He further reminds us that “God’s hatred of evil isn’t emotional; it’s judicial, an expression of His holiness. If we want to fellowship with God at His holy altar, then we need to feel that same anguish (anger plus love) as we see the evil in this fallen world.”

#6 Let’s not minimize sin under the guise of love.

The Bible describes sin as ugly. Hurtful. Defiling. Abhorrent. And repulsive to God’s Divine nature. Jude 22 admonishes us to hate the sin that defiles the flesh. Love for the Lord demands that we hate the sphere of worldliness and its attendant wickedness.

David, the man after God’s own heart, expressed this thought succinctly in the strongest terms possible.

Do I not hate them, O Lord, who hate You?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
I hate them with perfect hatred;
I count them my enemies.
(Psalm 139:21-22)

In the final analysis it seems we’re dealing with a spiritual paradox. One in which we must find a balance and not be led to extremes. Let’s not allow a cute, popular proverb to whitewash sin. However, may we not totally reject its sentiment as an excuse to harbor ungodly animosity and ill will toward a soul for whom Christ died.

When correctly applied both Divine love and “holy hatred” may co-exist in the proper context.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman