That's the Power of Love

I hear many people talking about the Love of Jesus and Christians. They say that claiming Jesus loves everyone excuses people to live the way they want and act the way they do. They claim that it whitewashes the Gospel. They claim that it tells them their sins are ok and to keep doing what they are doing. Well, I won't speak for others, but for me, that is completely inaccurate.

First off, I refer to Jesus' example for us all. The religious leaders accused him of hanging out with sinners, tax collectors, prostitutes, and more. Did that mean that Jesus was ok with their sin? Absolutely not! However, Jesus understood the power of showing others love and forgiveness. It is not our human definition of love. We, as humans, have no issue with loving people who love us. It is much harder to love those who despise us, talk about us, or be disrespectful to us. His love is much higher than our love. Showing others who we see are sinners, ungodly, or non-Christians love is VITAL in showing them what Jesus could and would do in their lives. When His love comes in, it will change your heart forever. Jesus knew this. That's the power of His love.

Nowhere in the Bible does it say when Jesus had a person He was about to heal or whatever that He sent them to the religious leaders to make a sacrifice and get forgiveness before He healed them. It didn't happen. Jesus healed them, delivered them, and forgave them on the spot, as they are. It was His perfect example for us to follow. Showing others love DOES NOT mean we agree with their lifestyle choices, their sins, or their choices. Showing others His love is what SHOULD pour out of every Christian to every person. Showing love to others DOES NOT mean Jesus approves of their choices. It certainly DOES NOT whitewash the Gospel. NOTHING can take away the Gospel or what Jesus did for us.

Pushing fear of punishment, fear of God (the bad kind of fear), is NOT the best way to help those who need Jesus. Showing them love, the love of Jesus. Showing them forgiveness. Showing them they matter to you and especially to Jesus. Not just with words but actions. Showing them how Jesus changed you and your life. Showing them that Jesus sees them, loves them, and wants them. That is what changes lives. That is what Jesus did while on the Earth, He showed us a better way. He showed us love as we have never understood it. He taught the Jewish people about loving everyone. Showing them compassion and forgiveness. The lives that He changed! He was not what they expected at all. He was so much more!

I know, some will disagree with this. Hate this. Make fun of this. That's fine. Everyone has the right to their opinion. I ask that you to really think about this. Pray about this. Ask yourself, what did Jesus do? Did He call out the "sinners" for their sins or did He call out the religious leaders for their actions? Did Jesus show the "sinners" love, compassion, and forgiveness, or did He judge them and treat them poorly? Ask yourself, why? Why did Jesus show love, compassion, and forgiveness to tax collectors, sinners, prostitutes, and more, yet call out religious leaders for their issues, actions, and attitudes? Is it possible that Jesus knew He could reach people better and they would listen closer with love, compassion, and mercy versus condemnation, judgment, and "better than thou" attitudes?

Jesus is our ultimate example of everything. I encourage you to look to His examples and words for this. He was not what they were taught or believed when He came as the Messiah. Some things have not changed. The spirit of religion is going strong today. What you believe is between you and Jesus. For me, I was wrong about many things that I was taught and believed in my life. He has shown me so much more since my experience in 2017. I am not afraid to admit, I was wrong. Guess what, He loved me anyway. Just as He loves the "sinners" and loves you!