The Question I Never Asked

One of the things I love most about my job is getting to ask questions.

As a managing editor, I'm constantly fact-checking, looking for context, and making sure what we publish is accurate. Good journalism depends on it.

Which is why Episode 2 surprised me in a way I wasn't expecting.

When Brandon said that the phrase "love the sinner, hate the sin" isn't actually in the Bible, I believed him immediately. But then I realized something that made me stop.

I'd never questioned it.

I'd heard that phrase for so many years that I accepted it without thinking much about it. I never looked it up in my Bible. I never pulled it apart. I never asked, Does this actually sound like Jesus? I just assumed it did.

Part of that is just who I am. I've always been a trusting person. I tend to assume people have good intentions, and when pastors, Bible teachers, and fellow Christians repeat something often enough, I naturally assume they're faithfully representing Scripture.

I actually laughed at myself. I spend my days fact-checking stories, yet I'd never fact-checked one of the most familiar phrases I'd heard in church growing up.

Not because I think people are intentionally trying to mislead others. I don't. I think many of us simply repeat what we've heard from people we trust.

But it did make me wonder how many other phrases I've accepted over the years without ever asking where they came from — or whether they really reflected the heart of Jesus.

As Brandon unpacked the history behind "love the sinner, hate the sin," another part of the conversation stayed with me.

I've heard that phrase used when talking about LGBTQ+ people, including people I love. In those moments, it didn't feel like a theological discussion. It felt personal. I found myself wanting to say, "You're talking about someone I care about."

I know the people who say it usually mean well. But somewhere along the way, I think the "but" often becomes louder than the love.

That challenged me.

If we sat down for coffee, I hope you'd never wonder whether I had a "but" waiting for you.

"I love you, but..."

"I care about you, but..."

Those words create distance before the conversation even begins.

Jesus certainly never ignored sin. But throughout the Gospels, I see Him leading with love, dignity, and relationship. That's the heart I want to reflect.

This episode didn't make me question my faith.

It made me want to know it better.

It reminded me that being teachable doesn't stop once we've spent years in church. If anything, it means staying curious enough to ask questions, opening my Bible for myself, and making sure the things I repeat actually point people to the heart of Jesus.

That's a habit I want to keep growing — not just as an editor, but as a follower of Christ.

Since recording this episode, I've found myself asking a new question whenever I hear a familiar Christian phrase: 

Does this actually sound like Jesus?

I think that's a question I'll keep asking from now on. --- Subscribe to The Disruptive Disciple Podcast with Pastor Brandon on your favorite platform.