So I just finished watching the documentary, LORD, Save Us From Your Followers and my mind is abuzz with thoughts and a deep-seated conviction in my heart to love people more, just for the sheer fact that they were created in the image of God. This film, made by a Christian, highlighted the church's failure to love--especially in America--and how this turned people away from the Gospel. It reminded me that we too often get caught up in proving points and pushing our own ideas that we forget that the person listening is also a human--whether or not they are right of wrong.
Understand that I am in no way downplaying the importance of intelligent thought or doctrine in Christianity; in fact, Paul calls for anathema on those who preach a gospel contrary to that given in the Bible (Galatians 1:8-9). I wish to raise the level of love I show others.
Too often the church tells people how depraved they are without showing them the way out of their sin. Too often, the church judges homosexuality and people who get abortions more than those who divorce or adulterate--even the fact the church condemns certain groups of people is not right (Romans 2:1-4), it gives the wrong impression about the nature of God. Non-Christians look at Jesus' life and see that he spoke to the Samaritan woman, he hung out with the tax collectors and prostitutes and did not condemn the people. See, it is possible to disapprove of an act or practice while not besmirching the rest of their character; their sin is no less forgivable than is ours. Non-Christians know the "get the log out of your own eye" line and sadly--although I have heard it out of good context--Christians give them entirely too many opportunities to reference this passage. How often do we need to tame our tongues instead of letting a harsh criticism fly out. We are to build up and edify with our speech, in love, so that we do not sound like a 3rd grader learning Flugelhorn. (Sorry if I am just jumping around or if this is incoherent, it's late/early, but these thoughts need to get out before I sleep).
So to avoid hypocritically criticizing the church for not loving I should add a few things, namely: I am a hypocrite, I condemn certain acts and then committ the same thing later. I love myself too much and therefore do not love others as I should. I say things that I wish I could take back, things that hurt, teardown, mislead, or cut--about specific people, from aquaintences to political leaders, and groups on whole, such as gays, people who get abortions, and others who I just don't agree with. This, however, gives me no right whatsoever to condemn the people. I am not God, that's not my job; my job is to show these people Christ's immeasureable love through action and allow the Holy Spirit to convict them, of their sin, while simultaneously humbling myself to receive God's correction for me. Sanctification doesn't end in this life, in other words, you'll always be a sinner while you are alive on this earth, but in Christ, there is no condemnation.
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
-1 John 3:18
Love requires that we take action and move on it. The love of the Christian (myself included) for the non-Christian and hurting should make them jump out of their pew, folding chair, or theater seat--depening on church background--and serve people as Christ humbly served here on the earth. Love people for being people made in the image of God.
Good night =D
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