If anyone should be saying "I am loving God," and should be hating their brother, he is a liar; for he who is not loving his brother whom he has seen can not be loving God Whom He has not seen
First Epistle of John 4: 20, Concordant New Testament
I ran across a internet video the other night of a same sex couple facing off against a large group of Christian protestors. As you might guess, these protestors were voicing the threat that these two people were on the fast lane of a highway to hell. Yet one of the comments left by the two people in question got to me. They claimed that the "Hate of the church" gave them no desire to ever want to walk into one. The hate of the church? Now, I can see how these two people came to that conclusion, but does it accurately describe the mainstream church of today? I would say that, at times it does indeed. I am not condemning the church as hateful, but that those within the church are human, and as we know, we humans are prone to doing some pretty outlandish things. So tell me, how is your message of hate directed towards these two alternative lifestyle people working out for you? Has anyone been led to the Lord? You hypocrites! You preach the evils of sin all while demonizing those who seemingly engage in it. How is it that you think God views those who sin according to your beliefs? Let's ask Jesus Himself. What was Jesus' response to a woman caught in the sin of adultery? What was His response as the authorities of His day were preparing to stone her for her offense? "Neither am I condemning you" {Johns Account 8:1-11}. Scriptures tell us that Jesus has not come into the world to condemn, but that all of the world would be saved through Him {Johns Account 3:16-17}. So, tell me again who Jesus would condemn to hell for some sin we saw in another's life? Again, it is Jesus who confides in us that we are not to be in judgement of those around us {Matthews Account 7:1}. Are we prepared to be judged by the same standards which we use against others? Being human, there is not one of us who has not been guilty of bad behavior at one time or another. What is it that you would be condemned for? I know Who it is that you will not be condemned by, and that is God. The apostle Paul tells us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ {Paul to the Romans 8:8}. If you yourself enjoy the protection of no condemnation from the Lord, why wouldn't He treat others in the same fashion? It is my belief that He would indeed.
Now, unbending, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they, does not one condemn you?" Now she said, "No one, Lord!" Now Jesus said, "Neither am I condemning you. Go! From now on by no means any longer be sinning."
Johns Account 8: 10-11, Concordant New Testament
I believe that many of those who protest the sins of others are either hardline apologists or those who continue to see sin as an issue in their own lives. Paul speaks to us that Christ died that sin may be nullified {Paul to the Romans 6:6}. That He died once for all time {Paul to the Romans 6:10}. That we should consider ourselves to be dead to sin {Paul to the Romans 6:11}. Not only that, but why should we who have died to sin continue to live within it {Paul to the Romans 6:2}. Jesus had all authority to forgive sin, which He accomplished through the woman caught in adultery. James, the Lords brother speaks that the anger of man "Is not working the righteousness of God" {James to the twelve Tribes 1:20}. I would suggest that it has the opposite effect. How is it that someone would feel welcome to walk into a church where they feel condemned and belittled? Is the love of God preached through the judgement of others? That is a question which the mainstream church definitely needs to be considering. I see the mass migration of people away from our brick and mortar churches as more and more people dissatisfied with the institutional church. Instead, our message should be, all are welcome. Our message to those seeking to know more about God should be the invitation which Jesus offers the fishermen by the sea, "Come and see!" As Jesus no longer condemns us, we should not condemn others.
~Scott~
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