| Subject: Hating Sin |
Author:
Yeager
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Date Posted: 09:37:51 03/27/02 Wed
AK:
Great post. I seriously couldn't resist responding to it, especially after calculation the mistakes I have made in the past with regards to revenge, that you brought out.
The first idea of having hate, but yet having a sinful nature is alarming. And the follow-up argument of being angry but not sinning? Last, but not least, is the idea of revenge.
Knowing what to hate seems to draw out my thoughts on II Peter 1:5-10 "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in INCREASING measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." This passage makes me seem to believe that if we pursue these things in increasing knowledge that we will have the ability of knowing more of what Christ's will is and therefore what to hate and not to hate. I know I have talked to Shrieve about this passage before and it seems to offer a lot. I love the fact that it also defends the negative slant of complacency regarding these traits, in that it heralds the counter-pursuit by us in saying that if we pursue these traits, we will also not fall. This would seem to me to be a justification of the "how to" of knowing when to hate and not hate.
Now onto the dessert; revenge. Obviously, a clever spun argument with the punchline being at my expense. My thoughts on revenge, have changed over the years thanks to God's provision. I am sure you all could embelish on what those past standard operating procedures would be. However, today it is remarkably different, to an extent. One day, after finishing the "Count of Montecristo", it dawned on me the idea that Edmund Dantes' revenge stunk, for lack of a better term. This would be AK's argument, that we are no good at revenge. I think he is right. But in examining God's plan, a remarkable development seemed to occur in me especially relating to people. I surmised that God's plan for revenge on people, for example, might be for us to give it to Him, not just because He is better at it, but also to give them a chance of repentence and acceptance of the "kingdom". II Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentence". The idea then, would be that revenge might be used to bring someone to know Christ and then to be used as a testimony to others. After all, how uncommon would it be for someone to turn over revenge to God? Wouldn't that draw an attention to the situation? Couldn't God then proclaim, "Look at what I can do with revenge?"
The real question then would seem to be, can I kick his @#$% once we both walk through the pearly gates?
Yeager
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