I came across an interesting phrase today; “Christ Centered Hate”.

The context was a man who came out at 13 and was removed from youth leadership, ostracized, and eventually left that church. I think his statement is very telling about our culture.

‘Hate’ has become a word that simply means you’re offended that I’m claiming the Bible says what you’re doing is sin.

‘Christ Centered’ is what we as Christ followers and as the Church are supposed to be isn’t it?

One of the Church’s functions is to correct and rebuke sin in it’s members, to restore repentant members, and if necessary, to protect the church by putting out a flagrantly non repentant member.

I have no idea how this man’s church handled this situation, I rather think they did poorly, but the idea I am running across all too frequently is that the church has no business at all correcting a member. I am NOT saying we have any business telling unbelievers how to live.

Christ spent His ministry seeking hurting people, meeting their needs, showing them their need of a savior, then calling them to repentance and obedience.

We should do no less (nor more).