CLAIM:
Really? Why not love everyone and let God deal with them in the end? Jesus would be so disappointed.

REBUTTAL:
Discussions about gender roles are often far more ideological than theological, even when attempts are made to spiritualize an unsupportable position. That is what we have here.

Definition and Nature of Ideology
Ideology is a system of ideas, beliefs, or ideals that shapes the foundation of economic, political, or social theories and policies. These systems often develop as groups of people rally around shared notions, which, over time, can expand into comprehensive frameworks for interpreting the world. The Bible consistently warns against placing human ideologies above divine truth, labeling such systems as “false” when they contradict or replace God’s revelation (Colossians 2:8; 1 Timothy 4:1-2).

The Source and Authority of Theology
Theology, in contrast, draws its authority from an objective source-namely, divine revelation, sacred texts, and religious tradition. It seeks to understand reality as God created or intended it. The clarity of Scripture is foundational to this pursuit: God has spoken in a way that can be understood by those who approach his Word with humility and faith (Psalm 119:105; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). This clarity ensures that theological convictions are rooted in what God has revealed, not in subjective human reasoning.

The Relationship Between Theology and Ideology
While those who are theological may also hold certain ideological positions, the key distinction lies in ultimate authority. A theological person submits personal or cultural ideologies to the test of Scripture and is willing to abandon them if they conflict with biblical truth. Conversely, an ideological person prioritizes their opinions, even when they contradict God’s objective revelation. The Bible cautions against this, urging believers to let Scripture transform their minds rather than conforming to worldly patterns (Romans 12:1-2; Colossians 2:8).

Love, Hatred, and Biblical Judgment
Ideological views of love often equate love with uncritical acceptance and the absence of judgment. However, Scripture presents a more nuanced picture. God is love (1 John 4:8), but he also expresses righteous hatred toward sin and, in some passages, toward those who persist in evil (Psalm 5:5; Psalm 11:5; Romans 9:13). This may seem surprising, especially when contrasted with cultural notions of love, but it reflects God’s holy character and his opposition to all that is evil.

Hating sin and sinners is not the same as ignoring them. Jesus called us to love one’s enemies (Matthew 5:43–44), demonstrating this on the cross by praying for his persecutors (Luke 23:34). At the same time, God placed enmity between the offspring of the woman and the serpent after the fall (Genesis 3:15), establishing a divinely ordained opposition to evil.

Judgment and the Christian Response
When God speaks of hating sin and sinners, he calls for discernment, not self-righteousness (Matthew 7:5; Romans 3:23). Christians are to judge according to God’s Word, recognizing the reality and danger of sin. Scripture instructs believers to flee from sin (1 Corinthians 6:18; 2 Timothy 2:22) and avoid the influence of persistent sinners (Psalm 1:1; 2 Corinthians 6:14-17), while still engaging with the world in truth and love.

Believers are not to ignore sin but to expose it (Ephesians 5:11), always aiming for restoration and salvation rather than condemnation (Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5:2; 1 Timothy 2:4). The goal is never self-exaltation but to reflect God’s desire for all to be saved, knowing that true transformation comes through faith, not mere moral reform (Hebrews 11:6).

Faith, Morality, and the Christian Life
A more moral society is beneficial, but a society rooted in faith is better. God desires actions that flow from genuine faith (Matthew 7:16-20). Christians obey God’s command not to earn salvation, but as a response to his salvation by grace through Christ.

Arguments that attempt to justify what God condemns, such as sexual immorality, by appealing to an ideological notion of love misrepresent both Jesus and Scripture. True Christian love does not ignore sin but seeks the good of others, even when that means speaking hard truths. Hatred of sin must never override concern for the sinner’s soul, and believers are called to respond with truth, commitment, patience, respect, and instruction (Ephesians 4:15; 2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Peter 3:15).

The Bible calls believers to let God’s Word shape their worldview, resisting the temptation to let human ideologies override divine truth. True love and discernment are found not in uncritical acceptance, but in faithfully applying the whole counsel of God.