Some accuse preachers of hate speech because they disagree with homosexuality and transgender. Is that true? What is hate speech?
Thank you, my dear friend, for your very good question. I believe that true Christians are obliged to speak the Word of God as it is clearly presented in the Scriptures, and that disagreement with homosexuality and transgenderism should not be termed as “hate speech”, but rather it is bowing to Scriptural authority. I believe that the Bible is God’s Word, and that it is true and consistent from start to finish. What’s more, I believe that God gave us His Word for our good, so that we might come to know Him: to know His love for us in sending His only begotten Son to be our Savior, and also that we might know how to live healthy and honorable lives. In 2 Timothy 2:16-17 we read: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” Unfortunately, there are many in our modern world who do not acknowledge God or the authority of His Word. Many today feel that when Christians speak of sin and the need for forgiveness, that this is somehow demeaning and hurtful, and constitutes “hate speech.” We know from God’s Word that all people are sinners (Romans 3:23), and there will indeed be judgment for our sins (Romans 6:23; Hebrews 9:27; Acts 17:31; Revelation 20:12-15). This is not “hate speech,” but is in fact the Word of God.
The good news is that we can be saved from judgment by the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ through faith in Him (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9). Many in our world today find this truth to be objectionable, believing that all people are inherently good, and that the concept of “right and wrong” is relative to the mores of society, and that speaking against behavior that is considered by most to be acceptable is hateful and demeaning. I looked up a definition of “hate speech” on the Internet, and according to the Constitution of the United States, in Article [I], we have Freedom of expression and religion in our country. But now, one of the definitions of “hate speech” that I found according to a ruling under this article is stated as follows: “Speech that demeans on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, disability, or any other similar ground is hateful….” Based on this definition, it would not be difficult to imagine that one who does not believe the Bible as the true Word of God might see any communication that seems to be critical of their cherished preferences and way of life to be hateful. But the Bible speaks very clearly about what is sin, and Christians must take their stand with God, not because of hate for certain classes of people, but because of our need to obey the written Word of the God of the universe. But, carnal people will generally not tolerate the truth of God’s Word. In John 15:18-25 we read that the Lord Jesus was hated by the Jews of His day because He spoke of their sins, and we also read in John 15:18-19 that because the world hated the Lord Jesus, it will also hate us who are followers of Christ.
Now, what would the Bible say about the all-too-common teachings of the social scientists, the media, and a large part of the people in our world today, that right and wrong are relative to the mores of society, and that to speak of sin and the need for repentance is demeaning and hateful? We read in Isaiah 5:20: “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” The Bible is very clear on what constitutes sin (see Romans 1:25-32 which discusses homosexuality and other sins). There will indeed be judgment upon those who do not repent of their sins (Romans 6:23; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:12-15). I do not consider it “hate speech” when Christians label as sin that which the Bible clearly calls sin.
But now, what should be the spirit of Christians when we stand for the truth? We must always remember that we are all sinners, and those of us who are saved are saved only by God’s amazing grace. Our spirit should always be desiring the salvation of others, and we should never harbor a covert delight in the ultimate judgment which will fall upon the unrepentant sinner. God is “…longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,” (2 Peter 3:9). Our job as Christians is certainly to warn others of the judgment to come, but then to announce the grace and love of God to a sin-sick world so that others might be forgiven and saved from judgment (Romans 6:23; John 3:16; 1 John 4:10; Romans 10:9). While it is true that God hates sin, He loves each of us, even though we are sinners, and that is why He sent His son into the world-to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). Thus, we are to present the truth of God’s Word in the spirit of love (Ephesians 4:15). The love I am speaking of here is that “agape” love, which is the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. This love is described well in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, and I’ll share verse 6 from this chapter where we read that charity (agape love): “…Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth….” We as Christians are bound to speak the truth, but to speak the truth in love, that type love that desires good (salvation) for others and not their hurt or demise. This is the love of Jesus who gave Himself for us (Ephesians 5:1-2). (SF) (613.1)