February 9, 2015

Show Love, Not Hatred

 

"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,

with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry

and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the darkness,

and your night will become like the noonday.

-- Isaiah 58:9b-10

Same-sex marriage has come to Alabama and the Christians are in an uproar. Not all Christians, of course. But those vocal opponents of the court ruling have marched (which is their right) and loudly proclaimed their views. Once again, the world knows what Christians (at least the vocal ones) oppose. Hate rules the airwaves. How very, very sad.

I'm not hear to debate this issue. Honestly, I gave it over to God a long time ago. What I am called to do, what you are called to do, is love people where they are and as they are.

The courts have already decided the same-sex marriage issue. The Supreme Court ruling expected later is merely a formality. Every decision has lead to this and no one expects anything else. Fighting a battle that is already lost is about politics and self, not about God or what the Bible says.

I wonder how different our world would be if those same people put their efforts toward feeding the hungry. Or maybe tutoring children. Or they could help the elderly with home repairs they can no longer do themselves or afford to hire others to do for them.

There are so many ways to show love to this hurting world. That's what Jesus did. He didn't condemn the sinners, the ones ostracized by society. He welcomed them to come to Him. The ones Jesus did condemn were the Pharisees, those religious leaders who were more interested in man-made rules than in showing love and compassion.

So which are you? Are you so focused on the rules, that you miss God's heart? Or do you love everyone, do good where you can, and trust God to handle all the rest?