Karen,
::1) I have to think about this. I was so indoctrinated by my old church into the 'sin nature' idea (almost as though it were some sort of separate entity that could be excised) that it's difficult for me to wrap my mind around other ways of thinking about sin. Talk to me.
I think it will be useful to examine the two interpretations of sin, as force or as nature, in the context of Christian charity.
I believe that humans are good according to their nature, their nature being made in the image of God, and that the force of Sin, including the weight of suffering, clouds this image.
I believe that humans are worthy according to their goodness, because God has seen fit to see us as worthy of His sacrifice, and in that sacrifice to make us worthy of it; and if God has declared us worthy, what standard or measure can be used against us to determine otherwise?
Therefore, I believe that charity is the obligation of anyone who claims wisdom, because our righteousness is to see the world, to see others, as God sees them. Rather than understanding charity to be a grace to our merit, I believe that we must understand charity as justice for their merit. It is common for Christians to see charity as unconditional love passed on from God's unconditional love for us, from one undeserving recipient to another. However, I see God's righteousness as His wisdom in seeing our deservedness, because our nature is good because He made us, and therefore I see charity as stepping into the same wisdom and understanding what others deserve from us, which is, everything.
::2) Yes, I agree with this. And I would also say that it doesn't let the person off the hook so easily. If sin is something that isn't 'really you', then you can disassociate yourself from it more easily. The devil made me do it, and all that. And of course, Romans 7.
Jesus's interaction with the rich man is the paradigm for all Godly counsel: to learn the person and love them so that you see what they need and have the courage to help them find it.
The question is: why are we to hate sin? Are we to hate sin because it disgusts us and offends our ethical philosophies? Do we hate sin because it is ugly or dirty, or because we ought? Or, do we want to be rid of sin because we see that it obstructs the good life of the one we love.
I suppose that when it comes right down to it, I do not think that we ought to "hate sin." Sin is only relevant because it impedes the purposes of God and man: it is not something in itself that deserves judgment, or merits it. This is to say, there are many people who "hate sin" as an aesthetic, the way one may hate a Thomas Kinkade painting, or as politics, the way one hates a bad tax, or as philosophy, the way one may hate a falsehood. But "hating sin" is not meant to be an exercise demonstrating one's moral strength: sin is not a world of monsters for us to slay by the sword to win the approval of God. Sin is the weight that holds down the ones we love, and so we push it off of them. "Hating sin" is merely posturing.
::Yes. Although I've also seen this attitude far too often toward fellow Christians: "but because he is both deserving of pity and easily transformed by your kindness into a
better disciple." The problem is, it doesn't seem to work too well. And after a while frustration sets in on both sides and the love turns to resentment and bitterness.
You are right, this way of thinking is often used in approaching fellow Christians. My objection to the style of pastoring that I believe is embodied in "hate the sin but love the sinner" came from my time as a university chaplain, experience which taught me something about successful and unsuccessful ways to encourage discipline and accountability in a small Christian community. "Hating the sin" is simply unnecessary, and provides grounds for proud distraction: truly loving the sinner includes doing anything to help them, including condemnation and discipline, and this unwavering focus satisfies our duty to be rid of sin: seeking sin itself out and having hatred for it is an exercise of our own holiness, a source of pride, not an exercise in love.
Adam