When we are loved, we generally know it. And we know it because of the way others behave toward us. However, there are many on campus who do not feel loved; they feel hated. Christian rhetoric that sounds like hate is not hard to find; all we have to do is attend a class, read letters sent to the editors of The Clause, or attend a chapel or two. It is in these contexts we use the maxim “Love the sinner, Hate the sin” to defend our right to pass judgment on “sinners.” This maxim strikes a deep chord in me because my colleague, best friend and spiritual mentor has been hated for who he is by Christians ever since we met twenty-five years ago. I don’t understand as he does what it is like to be truly hated for who I am—but because I have shared in his struggle and love him for exactly who he is, I have a piece of it. I hope that small piece teaches me empathy.
To love as Jesus would, we must listen to the stories of all those who love others. We must be willing, even eager, to hear their stories. And we must listen compassionately, with enough empathy to find and to love what is common between us rather than to hate what is different.
Over and over, we have clearly established who is “in” and who is “out” of our community. We sit in judgment of one other because we do not trust the gospel of Jesus Christ. The sheer number of times we have silenced those we also marginalize is compelling evidence that we do not believe the gospel is practical in our day to day living. The unfortunate truth is most of us who hold resolutely to what we consider the fundamental law of the gospel frequently miss its most important message.
As human beings we struggle daily to understand and live out Biblical principles—so those of us who are proud “legalists” will be shocked to know that it is our very legalism which requires us to follow the laws of God. The most fundamental law of God is the Law of Love. Love must be the bedrock for responding to all members of our community including students, staff, faculty, administration and alumni. We ignore the boldest principles of Jesus when we fight judgment with judgment and sarcasm with sarcasm. Loving the sinner and hating the sin makes us mean-spirited. This mean-spiritedness is far more destructive to our Christian community than the myriad of ways we choose to love one other.
My knowledge and experience of Jesus’ love is defined by his readiness to inflict pain upon himself to save others—particularly those in our community who are marginalized and ignored. Love does not say, “Do as we do or you are no longer welcome here.” It says, “We would rather be crucified than see any harm come to you.”
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CARRIE MARJORIE PEIRCE | ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY
Re “Concerned about homosexual advocacy,” Letters to the Editor, Feb. 10
The Clause, Azusa Pacific University
