What to hate:

“Sin sucks.”

Those were my words as my friend and I ran along the dusty Sisters trail, pounding out the miles and catching up on life. She’d just shared the sad story of a family member’s battle with addiction, and all the havoc that had ensued. My heart broke for her family. It reminded me of so many other stories I’ve heard, similar situations where sin sneaks in and robs entire families.  It’s terrible. As she shared, all I could think about was how much I hate sin and all the devastation it causes.

But then I had to think, “Do I really hate sin? Or do I just hate the effect of it?”

This has been a common theme in my life this past month. The problem, my problem, is that often I only hate the effects of sin, and haven’t yet gotten to the point where God has given me a hatred for the actual sin.

For example, in our culture:

Do we hate greed? Or do we just hate it when we run out of money or when things are tight because we spent too much?

Do we hate gluttony? Or do we just hate it when we gain weight or can’t zip up our jeans?

Do we hate envy? Or do we just hate the feeling it gives us when we can’t be as good as someone else?

Do we hate drunkenness or overindulgence? Or do we just hate feeling hungover or miserable afterwards?

Do we hate idolatry? Or do we just hate the feeling when those other gods don’t come through, or when God feels distant?

Do we hate pride? Or do we just hate it when our ego is wounded?

Do I hate laziness? Or do I just hate it when my kids misbehave and my house is a mess? (*NOT saying all instances of child misbehavior or house-messiness are a result of laziness! I think you get my point … )

This has been where God has put his finger in the past month.  

Do I really hate the things He hates, or do I actually still desire and indulge in those things but hate it when the fruit of that thing crops up and makes me feel miserable?

Does that strike a chord with anyone else but me?

I realize this post contains the word “hate” a lot. I know it sounds harsh. But sin is the reason my Savior had to die on the cross, and sin is what He rose and conquered, and it is what destroys families, lives, hearts. It was what separates us from God. It is the stench of death and disease that still lingers in our world. There is nothing good about it, and I’m asking God to give me a greater hatred for it  …. not just the effects of it.

I know, I know, it sounds like splitting hairs. Is there really a difference? I think there is. Here is the question we can ask:

{If engaging in this particular sin had no negative consequences, would I still loathe, hate, avoid it?}

I believe that we won’t begin to see greater victory over sin until we actually quit loving it and start hating it. As long as we secretly love the sin and only hate the consequences, we will never see true victory over it. It may sound small, but I have sneaking suspicion it’s big. We must allow God to permeate the deepest parts of our hearts, our true loves and hates, our greatest desires and longings. When all of Him takes over all of us … we begin to change. 

{Growing with you …. thanks for reading.}