My Job to Love

My job to love

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

                                                                             Romans 3:23.

The Talmud tells this story,
"An aged man, whom Abraham hospitality invited to his tent, refused to join him in prayer to the one spiritual God.  Learning that he was a fire-worshipper.   Abraham drove him from his door.  That night God appeared to Abraham in a vision and said: ‘I have borne with that ignorant man for seventy years: could you not have patiently suffered him one night?" The Talmud.
I listened the other day to some Christian evangelist. At least he called himself a Christian evangelist. I wondered however if he was Christian considering what he was saying.
This man was so negative. He was screaming at all the ills of the world. He particularly took aim at the LGBTQ community.
When he did my heart sank.
Now I'm not gay. Far from it. But over the years I've know some wonderful men and women from the gay community. Most of them have at one point in their life have struggled with their sexuality.  Ultimately however they have made the decision to accept who they are.
These men and women also at one point in their lives were also turned off by people calling themselves Christians.
When I heard this man yammering on about the evils of homosexuality it hurt even me. Were he to say it in Canada it may have even fallen under hate speech.
He made being gay out to be some special sin. There is no special sin. That evangelist has sin in his life as much as anyone be they gay or strait.
Paul makes it clear in his letter to the Romans,
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
                                                                            Romans 3:23.
That all, means all, irrespective of who they are.
I personally do not believe in Hell fire and brimstone preaching. I believe it violates a commandment of Jesus who said,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:1,2
In an article entitled "Too hot for the Pulpit." Published in Seven a magazine published by Promise Keepers, Mark Hughes. Notes that here in Canada, Revenue Canada has quietly put in place rules that forbid clergymen speaking out on political issues.
He noted that "We can still speak on the hot button issues of our culture, but the day of hellfire and condemnation is long over. We need a more gracious approach." going on to say,
"Recently I ran into an old school friend that had been living in Winnipeg's homosexual community for years. He knew I was a pastor and made this statement, "I guess your church would never welcome someone like me?" I answered, "of course we would, your homosexual sin is no worse than my heterosexual sin. The day you are not welcome, is the day no one is welcome." Mark Hughes
Over the decades especially here in North America it seems the church has got away from Love and salvation. Many preachers have it seems forgotten the words of Jesus who said,
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16,17
Billy Graham the great American evangelist said something that has resonated with me ever since I heard it. He said,

"It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love," 

                           Billy Graham.

Please think about it.

Inclusive

Inclusive
The Pharisees asked Jesus disciples,
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:11-13.
Many years ago the pastor of a church I attended at the time put a sign out in front of the church that read,
“This church for sinners only. ALL are welcome.”
Some people in the congregation objected. I believe some even left. The majority however backed the pastor. They understood what the pastor was saying.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23.
That “all” means everyone you, me, pastors, evangelist, even the Pope. Sinning is falling short of God’s ideals for your life. Sin is what separates us from God. It is something we need to ask forgiveness for.
The apostle John writes,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 1John 1:9-10.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans makes it clear,
“...(We) are justified freely by his (God’s) grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”  Romans 3:24.
The apostle Paul tells us,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
Christ Jesus died for our sins. C. S. Lewis wrote,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.” C.S. Lewis.
This is the message Christians are told to take to world around them.
This is a message that will never reach non-Christians if we as believers in Christ Jesus are not willing to sit down with anyone willing to listen to us. If we are not inclusive in who we talk to.
Please think about it.