The Truth About:

We’ve all heard the saying… “Love the sinner, hate the sin” usually preached at us with the implication that it is a Biblical verse. It is not a Bible verse. It’s a summary slogan (often traced to Augustine; popularized by Gandhi) meant to say: hold moral convictions while still showing unconditional care for people. The Bible does contain the ingredients for that idea ... but how it’s lived out matters.

Where the idea comes from in Scripture:

- God’s posture: God loves people while confronting sin (Romans 5:8; John 3:17).

- Our posture: Show mercy without cruelty (Jude 1:22–23); don’t judge hypocritically (Matthew 7:1–5); the greatest commands are love of God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37–40); love looks like patience, kindness, and not keeping score (1 Corinthians 13); the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, gentleness (Galatians 5:22–23).

- Jesus with the vulnerable: He protects and restores the shamed (John centers mercy over sacrifice (Matthew 9:13), and says people will know his disciples by love (John 13:35).

The caution

Used poorly, “love the sinner, hate the sin” can become “I say I love you while treating you as a problem.” If the person on the receiving end experiences rejection, shaming, or exclusion, the love hasn’t landed. In the New Testament, love is measured by its fruit in the other’s good (Matthew 7:16; Romans 13:10; Ephesians 4:29).

About the LGBTQ community and biblical texts

Christians today hold different convictions and use different interpretive approaches:

- Traditional/non-affirming: conclude that Scripture prohibits same-sex sexual relationships, yet insist on dignity, friendship, and inclusion without harassment or marginalization. Some adopt a “Side B” posture: uphold traditional sexual ethics while fully supporting LGBTQ people in community and vocation, with special care for those called to celibacy.

- Affirming: conclude that the biblical prohibitions address specific exploitative or idolatrous practices (e.g., temple prostitution, pederasty, coercion), not covenanted same-sex marriages; they emphasize the trajectory of Scripture toward justice and love, and the primacy of Jesus’ commands to love.

The most-cited “clobber passages” and how they’re debated

- Genesis 19 (Sodom): Prophets focus on pride, inhospitality, and oppression (Ezekiel 16:49–50); the story itself condemns attempted sexual violence.

- Leviticus 18:22; 20:13: part of Israel’s holiness code; Christians disagree on how these laws carry forward compared with other Levitical bans.

- Romans 1:26–27: set in a context of idolatry and excess. Some read it as a universal moral claim; others as addressing exploitative, status-unequal practices common in Greco-Roman culture.

- 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:10: two debated Greek terms ... malakoi and arsenokoitai ... may refer to economic exploitation or pederasty; translations vary.

Important: Jesus never addresses same-sex relationships directly, but he repeatedly centers love, mercy, and the worth of those on the margins. Even among Christians who disagree ethically, weaponizing Scripture to demean or exclude people contradicts Jesus’ way.

Practically, how should “love the sinner, hate the sin” look today?

- If you’re LGBTQ and facing biblical “gotchas”:

- You deserve safety and respect. Set boundaries: “I won’t debate my dignity. If you want to know me, let’s start with listening.”

- Seek communities that affirm your worth ... many churches and pastors do, across viewpoints.

- It’s okay to ask: “How will your ‘love’ show up in actions ... hospitality, advocacy, consistent care?”

- If you’re a Christian seeking to love well (whatever your view):

- Lead with presence, not arguments. Listen to people’s stories.

- Be consistent: don’t single out LGBTQ people while overlooking other sexual or relational ethics among straight people.

- Refuse slurs, bullying, and policies that cause harm. “Do no harm” is a Christian virtue.

- Let the fruit test guide you: is your posture producing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness in you and in them?

- If you hold a traditional view, commit to full belonging, deep friendship, shared leadership where possible, and tangible support ... especially for those walking celibacy.

- If you’re affirming, steward Scripture carefully and charitably toward those who disagree.

A helpful compass

- Center Jesus’ summary of the law: love God; love your neighbor (Matthew 22:37–40).

- Practice mercy over sacrifice (Matthew 9:13).

- Speak truth with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).

- Let your love be something the other person can recognize as love.

Further resources

- Affirming: Matthew Vines, “God and the Gay Christian”; James Brownson, “Bible, Gender, Sexuality”; Justin Lee, “Torn.”

- Traditional/Side B but pastoral: Preston Sprinkle, “People to Be Loved”; Ed Shaw, “The Plausibility Problem.”

- Communities: Q Christian Fellowship (affirming); The Reformation Project (affirming); Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender (traditional/Side B).

- Julia O’Hara 2025

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