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Personally, I do not "love" the sinner -- as in feel an emotional affection for -- and hate the sin.

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That's what I was saying.

I understand what you're saying. I feel much the same way. What I was getting at however is that 'love' (as used in this discussion at least) is not a 'feeling'. It is not emotional affection. It is a decision to want the best for someone else. We decide to love the sinner because God commands us to love one another. Sometimes that love requires us to seek their health and sometimes that love (for yet others) requires us to seek their deaths. But we always deep down want the best for them.

I have a brother who is trapped in sodomy. I love him because God commands me to and he is my brother. I hate him because of what he does and what he believes. The two are not exclusive (The exact opposite of love is apathy not hatred)

When Christians say to a general audience, "We love homosexuals," I think it sounds silly. We look ridiculous because to most people, love is an emotional affection. Now you probably have an emotional affection for your brother that has nothing to do with his homosexuality. So you do love him as the world defines love. But to say you "love" homosexuals to a secular audience is a self-defeating statement. In general terms, it is false.

I do not personally want anyone's death in this matter. I am very sad when they get diseases and die. I know they did it to themselves. But it still grieves me. I know God is just and I trust Him. But I am not happy when it happens.

I agree that God's love is not a feeling. That really was my point too. Godly love is about what you do, not what you feel. In context, however, that is not how the world perceives the statement. From God's perspective, those of us who are fighting against the gay agenda are actually acting more loving toward homosexuals than those who join their cause. Love must sometimes side with what is best for a person, not just what makes the person feel good for the moment. God disciplines the son he delights in, to make him better. His correction of us is a display of His love for us. We do the same for our own children. It is hard to define a greater love than the love of a parent for his child. Yet the most loving parent is the one who gently corrects and instructs his child in ways that are right and good.

This is not untrue of other love relationships. You do not show genuine love by enabling a friend, family member, whomever, to continue in self-destructive ways.

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