On Sound Bytes

This morning I ran across a post by Scot McKnight on his blog about a famous sound byte in some Christian circles, especially in reference to homosexuality.

"Love the sinner, hate the sin."

You've heard it. I've said it. But do I or any of us actually live it consistently? I know that I don't expend nearly the effort that Jesus did to seek out those who have fallen short to love (other than myself, of course). I know that I spend too much time letting others know where I stand on things for the purpose of placing myself safely in one box or another. In one simple sound byte on say, homosexuality or the war or abortion or who I'm going to vote for or my view of the Bible, etc., I have defined for you my "friends" and "enemies." I have told you who is "us" and who is "them." I, and those like me, are right, and they are wrong. The reason that the platitude above is so popular, methinks, is because it allows Christians, in six words, to stake out their position on a controversial issue (one that has become a litmus test of litmus tests) and still maintain an appearance of compassionate inclusion.

I often roll my eyes at most bumper stickers, especially ones that try to be funny. Why, I wonder, must I be told that in case of the rapture, the car in front of me will swerve out of control or that I should celebrate diversity? Has anybody ever been persudaded to change their convictions (preferences are a different story) by a sound byte?

I have used a lot of room on this blog to stake out my position on immigration. I suppose if I had to create a bumper sticker that would reflect my position, it would say something like, "Amnesty Rules!" with the Spanish translation underneath. Or maybe not.

The challenge I came away with from Scot's post is to spend more time seeking out and loving sinners (people very much like myself) and a lot less time "hating sin" with what I write and say. If someone ends up questioning where I stand on a particular issue, maybe that's the ambiguity that can lead to constructive conversation.

I love what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2, that he did not preach using clever words (sound bytes), but rather a demonstration of the Spirit and its power. That power is the same love that put Jesus on the cross. Not the love of the sound byte, but the love of a life lived to the full and poured out for others. That is my privilege--to love sinners created in God's image.

The Spirit of God is stronger than any sound byte.