“If you love me, you will accept me as I am.” But, is this statement completely true? Ironically, those who have heralded these words before are at once offended by this author’s question, and yet it is the ambiguity of the phrase that begs the question. Without question these words can be applicable in certain cases, but unfortunately it is more often abused by those seeking to defend their poor choices. For example, would this sentence be readily accepted by society if a criminal were to speak them to gain acceptance for his crimes? Would we be amenable to his criminality since who he is, is a criminal? I am certain that the answer (especially from his victims) is a resounding no. Yet, in our modern world this has been precisely how this statement has been abused by humanity. Holy Writ promulgates “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness,” but man immediately responds to this by saying, “don’t judge me” (1st John 3:4, emphasis added). The regrettable reality is that what the world wants to present as love, is in actuality tolerance for sin. Because of this, the statement quoted at the beginning of this treatise proves to be deceitful when improperly used. Those who utter these words to defend their sinful actions, also imply that to speak out against sin is to promote hate. However, what they refuse to accept is that they have an addiction and urgently require assistance. The Master cautioned, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin” (John 8:34, emphasis added). A slave is a person who is held in bondage by someone or something mightier than he, whose freedom to exercise his own will has been subjugated into submission. Thus, the lesson espoused by Jesus is the addictive nature of sin. The prophet Jeremiah also speaks of sin’s perilous nature as he illustrates, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil” (Jeremiah 13:23, emphasis added). Due to sin’s addictive nature, the question now is: How can a person attempting to break the addiction be accused of hatred? Irrefutably, it becomes abundantly clear that love, not hatred, is the motivating factor for those who reprimand sin. Today’s society is self-deceived by a delusive love that solely seeks to keep the addiction alive. Like any addiction, it is wise to remember that the longer it is habitually practiced, the more destructive it will become. This harsh veracity is validated by the inspired apostle as he describes those who “walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness” (Ephesians 4:17b-19, emphasis added). To be “past feeling” reflects a “conscience seared with a hot iron” (1st Timothy 4:2). In other words, those who practice sin habitually no longer have a moral compass. Sinful living has become natural for them and they can no longer tell right from wrong. Once again, the eminent danger of any addiction is that the longer it lingers, the more lethal it becomes. The pleasure that sin offers becomes intoxicating to he who revels in it, but he does not realize that “his own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin. He shall die for lack of instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray” (Proverbs 5:22-23, emphasis added). For this reason, it is unwise to believe that those who reprimand sin do so out of spite and that those who enable it do so out of love. Remember that to remain silent before sin is the same as to encourage it because “open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” (Proverbs 27:5-6, emphasis added). The Lord demonstrated the accuracy of this proverb with His cross. On the night He was going to be betrayed and arrested, He taught His disciples “greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). It is important to remember that the Lord Jesus knew that the Jews sought to kill Him because He was, “a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God” (John 8:40). Notice that even though the Master was aware that His life was in danger, this did not persuade Him to remain silent before them. However, along with the rebuke He always offered a solution. Before He revealed their murderous intent against Him, the Lord spoke saying, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free…Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:31-32, 36, emphasis added). It is important not to forget that addiction is also an illness. For this reason, the Lord Christ revealed “those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Luke 5:31-32, emphasis added). Our Lord emphasizes that sin is a plague that rapidly deteriorates the inner man. The Great Physician offered the cure for this spiritual disease, but man chose to kill Him instead for providing it. However, what man was unaware of, is that His death was the cure for this dreadful malady and the specific purpose for His arrival to our world. Verily, the Lord Jesus exhibited the true and pure nature of love by coming into the world and laying His life down for His friends. Although He knew that for speaking truth He would be mercilessly killed, He spoke out against sin regardless of the outcome. The pattern of love the Lord Jesus laid for us to follow does not include condoning sin, for it is an illness that rots the soul. It is why Holy Writ speaks against those who so practice it and warns “He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord” (Proverbs 17:15). Unequivocally, those who falsely claim that to love them is to allow them to continue in sin are guilty of practicing this proverb. Remaining silent before wickedness, however, is to become an accomplice and an enabler of the sinner also. Therefore, let us understand and accept that “those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them” (Proverbs 24:25)
