The Problem with "Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin": Rethinking Love, Truth, and Grace
Voxology
Introduction
Mike Erie and Laura are back with a new podcast. This week they talk about Adele, finding nightfall and the Ducks. They also discuss whether or not you should wear your Anaheim Ducks hat to work.
What does it truly mean to love someone you disagree with—especially in matters of identity, sexuality, and theology? Mike Erre and Andy Lara dig into a critically important (and often misused) phrase in Christian culture: "Love the sinner, hate the sin." In this thought-provoking episode, they unpack why this mindset—while well-intended—may actually undermine the transformative power of Jesus' love and twist the gospel's radical message of grace, especially for the LGBTQ+ community and those navigating the church's cultural contradictions.
This episode challenges listeners to reevaluate how they approach difficult relational and theological conversations, particularly through the lens of love as demonstrated by Jesus, Paul, and the early church. With humor, honesty, and theological depth, Mike and Andy call for a new way of engaging others—one defined not by judgment or disapproval, but by costly presence, advocacy, and Christ-like transformation.
Key Takeaways: • Why "Love the sinner, hate the sin" fails the gospel test and often leads to relational harm. • How Jesus and Paul modeled a radically different posture toward so-called outsiders—especially women and marginalized groups. • Reframing love: Four dimensions of godly love—commitment to someone, being with them, being for them, and loving them toward something. • Table fellowship and the ethics of presence—why simply being with others can speak volumes more than correction. • The danger in obsessing over "approving or disapproving" of others and how it distracts us from the mission of embodying Christ. • What accountability, repentance, and truth-telling look like inside real, loving relationships. • How cultural Christianity replaces Jesus' radical hospitality with coercive moralism.
Resources Mentioned: • A Fellowship of Differents by Scot McKnight – [Link] • Luke 8 and the role of women in Jesus' ministry – [Link] • Ephesians 5 and mutual submission theology – [Link] • Galatians 3:28 – Unity in Christ regardless of gender or status – [Link] • John 8: The woman caught in adultery – [Link] • Romans 12: Hate what is evil; cling to what is good – [Link]
Join the Voxology crew in dismantling harmful clichés and finding a deeper, more faithful way forward in how we love, correct, and walk with one another—especially when it's complicated.
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We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.
Our Merch Store! ETSY
Learn more about the Voxology Podcast
Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify
Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon
The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio
Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook
Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre
Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford
Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy
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