Jude 22 says "Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear - hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh."
What does this mean? It sounds like a contradiction...it is not. It sounds like we should separate ourselves from those who don't walk the path or have fallen off...we shouldn't. So what does this mean? How can we be merciful to those who doubt? Isn't doubt a form of corruption? How can we snatch others from the fire if we aren't involved with those who might be headed that way? How do you show mercy if you are only around those "perfect", "holy" individuals? Hate the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Hate it! Homosexuality is a sin. Adultery is a sin. Sex before marriage, lust, gluttony, these are all sins. Greed, idoltary! These all corrupt the flesh. Gossip...yep. Where do you fall?
Ephesians 6:12 states "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." This reminds of the saying "hate the sin and not the sinner".
Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While were were still sinners, Christ died for us."
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