How many times have we heard this phrase? Too many to count.
But do you know where it came from? If you answer "the Bible", you'd be wrong.
I seem to be learning from my high schoolers' United States history lessons as much as they do.
Apparently, a phrase that so many American Christians have adopted may have begun with Clarence Darrow...yes, the Clarence Darrow...the man so many Christians vilify for successfully defeating Creationism as the only fact about how our earth and all its species came to exist in the public school system. You've heard it referred to as "The Scopes Monkey Trial" or have maybe even seen the play or movie Inherit the Wind.
But until a few days ago, I was complete unaware that Darrow tried another very high profile case in his time: Leopold and Loeb. Two young men who had every privilege money could buy and yet they chose to murder for thrills. Darrow was the first to introduce a psychiatric defense as well as blaming "society, schools and violent social conditions" for the act perpetrated by these two "boys". (see Digital History "Leopold and Loeb")
What struck me first is that possibly more than any man in our judicial history, Clarence Darrow's influence permeates our courtrooms to this day. The second thing is how readily Christians grab hold of a succinct catch-phrase that: a.) has nothing to do with Biblical Christianity and b.) excuses their judgmental and harshly critical treatment of people whom they don't want to associate with [chief among this list, homosexuals].
I've heard this phrase said so often that it does begin to eek into your own moral fiber. But Jesus first and foremost taught that we are to LOVE. Love all. Not just the ones that look like us. And lest we forget, love is best defined as "doing well for" someone. It never means that you condone sin. It simply (yet, profoundly) indicates that no matter where a person has been, presently is, or soon will be heading...you will do everything God gives you the power, ability and grace to do to build them up, be truthful and lead them closer to the foot of the Cross where they belong.
My words can so easily be misunderstood or not communicate well what my heart is trying to express. I encourage you to watch this video by Tony Campolo.
"Love the sinner and hate my own sin"...now that's a catch phrase worth living out!
But do you know where it came from? If you answer "the Bible", you'd be wrong.
I seem to be learning from my high schoolers' United States history lessons as much as they do.
Apparently, a phrase that so many American Christians have adopted may have begun with Clarence Darrow...yes, the Clarence Darrow...the man so many Christians vilify for successfully defeating Creationism as the only fact about how our earth and all its species came to exist in the public school system. You've heard it referred to as "The Scopes Monkey Trial" or have maybe even seen the play or movie Inherit the Wind.
But until a few days ago, I was complete unaware that Darrow tried another very high profile case in his time: Leopold and Loeb. Two young men who had every privilege money could buy and yet they chose to murder for thrills. Darrow was the first to introduce a psychiatric defense as well as blaming "society, schools and violent social conditions" for the act perpetrated by these two "boys". (see Digital History "Leopold and Loeb")
What struck me first is that possibly more than any man in our judicial history, Clarence Darrow's influence permeates our courtrooms to this day. The second thing is how readily Christians grab hold of a succinct catch-phrase that: a.) has nothing to do with Biblical Christianity and b.) excuses their judgmental and harshly critical treatment of people whom they don't want to associate with [chief among this list, homosexuals].
I've heard this phrase said so often that it does begin to eek into your own moral fiber. But Jesus first and foremost taught that we are to LOVE. Love all. Not just the ones that look like us. And lest we forget, love is best defined as "doing well for" someone. It never means that you condone sin. It simply (yet, profoundly) indicates that no matter where a person has been, presently is, or soon will be heading...you will do everything God gives you the power, ability and grace to do to build them up, be truthful and lead them closer to the foot of the Cross where they belong.
My words can so easily be misunderstood or not communicate well what my heart is trying to express. I encourage you to watch this video by Tony Campolo.
"Love the sinner and hate my own sin"...now that's a catch phrase worth living out!
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