I have a friend, he's one of the smartest men I have ever met. He just happens to be gay. Because of his sexual preferences he has been scorned by many "Christians." So badly to the point where he doesn't want anything to do with Jesus.
Peter loved Jesus, no doubt about that. Even to the point of willingness to fight against Roman officials to keep Jesus from being taken away.
It is important to stand up for what we believe in, but there may be a difference in standing and fighting.
There are people who want to learn about God, and are desperately looking for him, but are being cut off by well meaning Christians who are "fighting" for what they believe in.
Are you swinging the sword of God around so wildly that you cut off the ear of those God is trying to speak to?
Are your convictions more important than loving those around you?
The good news is that Jesus can heal the hearts of those who have been hurt by the church, just as he did the guard that had his ear cut off by Peter.
But as Christians we should live our lives in a way that makes it easier for people to love and know God, not harder.
Thoughts? Please spread the word, and share:
Great thoughts, Greg. Isn't it amazing how the Enemy makes it so hard for many of us to love sinners while standing for the Truth? Don't get me wrong: we MUST stand for Truth. But we must do so in Love. I like how you put it: that we must stand for the Truth but that doesn't mean we have to fight everyone who doesn't believe.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, way to bring up something that isn't always easy to discuss in faith circles.
ReplyDeleteYour friend isn't the only one who has struggled because of the Church's typical "stand up for what's right" stance on this. It has been and is a big hangup for me. I think the main thing that helped me hang on to faith was that the Jesus I saw in the gospels was nothing like the people I see chastising others in His name . . . they might be well-meaning, but it seems like sometimes they're taking a Pharisee stance rather than a Jesus stance.
I hope for a day when Christians will concern themselves more with the Truths that Jesus spent most of his time talking about: loving our neighbors, giving a glass of cold water to those in need, welcoming outsiders. Unfortunately, we're still largely known for arrogantly calling others out on their sins while the plank in our own eye is a mile wide.
I have to agree. We live next door to a lesbian couple. They are the nicest human beings - and you can tell they are careful about letting anyone in to their world and seem guarded and I'm sure for good reason. We have just accepted them and loved on them any chance we get. I don't even think they know that Greg is an ordained minister - and they may be surprised to learn it someday. We treat them like ordinary people - we accept and do not judge them. The great thing about Jesus was that He accepted people right where they were and did not expect them to clean themselves up - or change their lifestyle before He would accept them. He just had pure love. And people responded to Him - and when they had that encounter with Him - they were never the same. Transformation must come from knowing Jesus - otherwise it does not work - and does not last. Guilt and shame do not work - real honest love does. Why do we use the other technique? Jesus never did. I want to believe that when we really know Him - He will permeate through our lives and others will want to know Him too - and they will be changed because WE are different.
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