This afternoon I had the opportunity to talk to one of my former youth students regarding love and what it means as a Christian. It was a complex talk because I found there was some misunderstanding over Jesus’ command to “love everybody” in fact what Jesus says is “love everyone as I have loved you.” That is a sacrificial love. I fear as a church we have taken Jesus’ words out of context and we paint a picture of a kumbaya Jesus that never offended anyone. Jesus offended people on a daily basis, He was notorious for offending people! I know that is not a vision we like to see in the modern church where we have this perception that everybody should feel comfortable but the fact is not everybody is going to feel comfortable with truth or the holiness that leads us to truth. Love in the context that Jesus, Peter, Paul, and the rest of apostles are teaching is first and foremost share the Gospel with everyone do not discriminate who gets to hear the good news: 1. God is King, 2. Jesus offers salvation and restoration, and 3. Sins are washed away- this news is for EVERYONE to hear. If they choose to reject it then that is their right but we do not have the authority to alter truth to make them comfort with it. The second part of love that is being taught through Jesus and the apostles is have compassion and kindness for everyone that means if someone falls help them up, if someone is sick make soup, if you can help someone do it don’t discriminate who you offer aid too. Love does not mean accept, celebrate, or rejoice at lifestyles that lead someone out of God’s will or truth. Love people well but that does not in anyway mean you will not offend them with your faith or the truth of the Gospel. I fear we have created a church that is more worried about being politically correct than spiritual healthy. Only healthy people can help sick people. Jesus said it is the sick that need help not the well and He meant spiritually not just physically.
As Christians we live in a kingdom which is not a republic ( and I cannot stress that enough), we don’t get to vote on what we want to accept in God’s Kingdom, God is King and He makes the rules, He defines truth, and He sets the standards we are to live by. When we enter into God’s Kingdom, we give up autonomy that is the right to self-govern or live anyway we choose. God does not bully people into His kingdom, He invites people. And when we enter we it is with the understanding we must live under His leadership, His rule, not our own. That means we don’t get to rewrite truth to suit our own needs or to make someone feel comfortable in His presence. In fact most people in sin will not feel comfortable in God’s presence at first that is why we are to lead in love. God is holy and holiness demands respect.
Our commission is to reveal God’s love by sharing the Good News of the Gospel, there is a way out of sin and into redemption and also that God is King right now in the present world!! That is exciting and should excite us as believers, it should be the fuel that feeds our motivation to share our faith. That is loving people. In Jesus’ day it was outrageous to the Jewish People that God’s Kingdom would allow Gentiles in, it was extremely offensive to the Jewish religious leaders, after all Gentiles were the enemy of Israel. Yet, Gentiles were accepted and that also meant they did not have to convert to Judaism a term not even around during the time of Jesus, it meant God accepted a Gentile as a Gentile but that did not mean they could live anyway they wanted too, they were called to live by God’s standard as Holy people. Love in Jesus’ day meant offering Gentiles the right to become holy (they had to repent which means change of heart, change of desire, submission to God’s way) and today it means offering people in sin the right to become Holy people. Again, it also means they have to give autonomy up to live in God’s Kingdom.
The most exciting thing about the Gospel message is that through Jesus we find our true authenticity by the restoration Jesus brings to our lives to be Image Bearers of God the very thing we were designed for which is stated clearly in Genesis 1:26-27. The world offers a lot of counterfeit truths, a lot of substitutes but none of them bring true authenticity because that can only be found in the Messiah Jesus. Through Jesus we have the opportunity to become new creations with a new way of going about life, a new way to be human… that does not mean it is your job to make everyone comfortable with your faith but it does mean you have been empowered to reveal the love of God and lead people to the source of your transformation. Christianity and faith are not about making people comfortable but about revealing the love of God and leading them to the source of your change all while sharing the hope that has been given to you. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Psalm 98:1 “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.” Now is the time to let people hear the song of praise you have for the Lord, sing boldly to Him and for Him for He is worthy. Tell everyone the wonderful things He has done for you, share your faith and reveal God’s love within you.