Love the Person, Hate the Disease

We understand that we are to love those we disagree with, love those who sin, love our enemies, love those who have hurt us and so forth. But have you ever found it to be a challenge to separate the wrong-doing, the sin or the lifestyle from the person?

Recently, someone explained a good way to wrap our heads around this. He said, if a child or loved one has a disease, we hate the disease but love the person. We can’t love the disease or accept the disease if we love the individual.

What would we do for our loved ones if they were struggling with a disease? We pray for them, we care for their needs, we give love and our time. Yet, we would do nothing that would support the disease itself. That is exactly what we can do for those who live contrary to God’s ways. As a side note, there might be people who we need to distance ourselves from because they are a detriment to our well-being, but we can still pray for them and have concern within our heart.

Apostle Paul shared in Romans 12:20-21,
“’If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

We are to follow the footsteps of Jesus who gave us an example of mercy and compassion for all people. He even interceded for those persecuting him as he hung on the cross. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

With the help of the Holy Spirit and spending time in personal prayer for greater strength and compassion, we can love people separate from the disease.