As I tackled the Lies Women Believe chapter about sin, I came to a realization of what is wrong with myself AND the church at large today.  The truth is that Christians don't hate enough.  

Allow me to clarify that statement, lest you think I am some hate monger akin to a certain church who spreads their message of hate, soiling the name of Christ.  You see, the problem is that Christians don't hate our own personal sin enough.  

Oh, we hate sin alright.  We spew our hatred of other people's sin, or perceived sin, all over the place.  We are so quick to look down upon others and cast a critical eye on all that they do wrong.  I love how Casting Crowns sheds light on this epidemic in their song Stained Glass Masquerade.  We seem to want to sit in our holy huddle, excluding anyone that might not look or act like we think they should.  And, this, in and of itself is sin.  A grievous sin at that--because we turn people off from Christ.  

I recently read a very interesting blog post about how a group of believers attended a gay rights parade with signs saying they were sorry.  Their hope was to express love--the genuine authentic love of Christ.  To right their own personal wrongs in making anyone feel less than the love that Christ would offer were he walking the earth today.   It was intriguing to me to say the least.  Because I think Christ would want us to throw the church doors--and more importantly--our own heart doors--wide open, expressing His love, to everyone.  Christ modeled this all throughout Scripture in his ministry.  He hung with the sinners.  He steered clear of the judgmental ways of the Pharisees and Saducees.  He proved His love on the cross.  His love for all.  And we cheapen that love when we don't do the same. 

I believe that in my own life and the church at large, much would change were we to truly hate our own sin enough.  Were we to turn that critical magnifying glass on the log in our own eye, what would change?  If we were so disgusted by our own sin that we surrendered ourselves completely to being refined and changed by the Holy Spirit--then what?!  I tell you what.  I think revival. In fact, God promises just that.  Take a look.