A New Way · August 26, 2021 0

God loves you, unless….

Dear Christian,

God loves you so much that he sent his son to die on a cross for you so that you could live in heaven with him forever. That is…

Unless you’re gay

Unless you are estranged from your family

Unless you’ve been in jail

Unless you’ve had an abortion

Unless you’re a democrat

Unless you’re depressed

Unless your life is falling apart at the seams

Unless you don’t dress in your Sunday best when you go to church

Unless you are/were addicted to drugs

Unless you have tattoos

What translation of the Bible is this coming from? Because that’s not something I’ve ever read. Yet, that’s the impression that the church is giving to people.

We hear “Hate the sin love the sinner” And I’m sure the people that say it mean well, but what if we applied something like this instead: “Love the sinner, hate your own sin”? Because at the end of the day, that’s all we are responsible for. We cannot separate the sin from the sinner. That’s why Jesus came. 

God made everyone in his image. He loves everyone. Every single person that you come in to contact with, regardless of how you perceive their lifestyle, is an image bearer of God. God’s breath sustains that persons life. What right do we have to judge them? Especially knowing that in terms of needing a savior – we are all in the same boat.

There’s another side to this argument where people feel justified in judgement by saying something like: “Well Jesus regularly called people out for their sin” And that’s true.  But Jesus was blameless. We aren’t. We should all be focusing more on being better versions of ourself so that we can address the plank in our own eye so that maybe we can see our brothers and sisters with the same love that Jesus does.

What sin are you avoiding in your own life but calling out in others? I’m praying that you find the strength to work with God to address the dark areas of your heart that haven’t quite been handed over to God yet. Will you pray for me, too?

Love,
Ashley