Love. I’ve seen that word thrown around a lot lately. It seems like such a refreshing word in a world that seems to have forgot what love is. This seems especially true among us younger folk. Many my age feel that they’ve been handed a world that has lost it’s way and they have this sort of mission to bring love back into the world.
It’s not really a new thing though. This same thing happened back in the 60’s with the hippie movement. It’s happened throughout the ages and it will continue to happen until Jesus comes back. There’s nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9).
Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for love. I’m all for being accepting. Jesus really did go to the outcasts and He sought out the sinners. Did they stay sinners, though?
It seems today that many people have gotten so wrapped up in this
word, “love”, that they’ve distorted it. To many people calling out sin is a message of hate. They say that we should just accept people as we are and allow them into the family of God. Jesus never told people they could just keep living the way they wanted to and still go to Heaven. No, he confronted people in their sin and the people had to make a clear choice. They could either follow Jesus and allow him the pour His grace on them or they could continue in their sin and go the opposite direction.
Confrontation can absolutely be done out of love. Just because you tell someone their sinful lifestyle will send them to hell doesn’t mean you want them to go there. On the contrary, we should tell them this because we want them to turn from their life of sin and follow Jesus. Jesus makes it clear that you cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24) and while he was specifically talking about money here, the principle can be applied to many things. For we have been rescued out of the kingdom of darkness and brought into the Kingdom of Light! (Colossians 1:13)
Do I think the Christians can live without sinning? No. There is certainly room for grace. But the Bible clearly teaches us that while we may slip up from time to time we should definitely be walking in light and not in darkness. (1 John 1:5-10) I don’t see this as having to live by a system of rules or laws either. It is simply loving Jesus and his ways. When you love, and I mean really love, Jesus you will want to be more like him. Then there is no need for laws.
Also, I absolutely believe love should be shown to everyone regardless of their belief in God. Love is supposed to be the way the World knows us, and yes many have carried the name of Jesus and have not done a good job of loving. I would question their allegiance and yes, scripture gives me the authority to judge them on that (1 John 4:8 ) just as it gives me the authority to pass judgment on those who would call themselves believers but are engaged in a lifestyle of sin (1 Corinthians 5).
I know this isn’t a popular thing to say and that it is somewhat harsh, but the truth often is. I’m not looking for a Church (global) where everyone is comfortable with the way they live their life (including me) or that makes scripture so weak that it is never offensive. We need people to stand up and confront and we need scripture to be offensive. If scripture and the Spirit of God never offended or confronted then the Bride of Christ (the Church) would never be able to be presented pure and blameless to Christ when He comes to get Her.
So by all means let us love one another. But in doing so let us not water down scripture and become so accepting of sin that it becomes rampant in the church. Love everyone! If they desire to come to God, let them! If they do not leave their life of sin, forbid!
