Words and Actions

As many of you know, I am reading the book unChristian, a book about what nonChristians believe about Christians and Christianity as a whole.

A few days ago, I wrote a post about some of my thoughts on homosexuality and Christianity. I finished reading the chapters of the book related to homosexuality yesterday so I wanted to finish writing about my thoughts.

Let me begin by posing a question that was asked in the book...

Do our language and actions communicate compassion to others?

This is a key question, one that we should ask ourselves continually. We all make mistakes, but overall, our actions and our words should show compassion towards others. This is true whether you are Christian, Muslim, atheist, whatever... Our actions and our words are very important.

We may not always agree with what others are doing. Often we may not. People may test our patience and do things the hard way. But as human beings, we need to love others no matter what. This includes whether or not you agree with homosexuality.

Our world needs more love, not hate.

I believe our world needs love more than ever. People are divided over political agendas and religious beliefs. Some say we are more divided than ever before. Our divisions keep us from coming together. Our world is rocked by wars where there should be peace. Our world is rocked with fear where there should be calm. Our world is rocked by anger where there should be love. Our world is rocked by disagreements where there should be people working together. In order for us to move toward peace on any level, we need to come together in unconditional love.

I very much dislike when people say "God hates ______." God doesn't hate anyone. Whether you are Christian or not, we are not called to spread a message of hate but rather a message of love. When Jesus walked around, he didn't say he hated anyone. He welcomed everyone, including those the world turned away.  He showed compassion to everyone. We need to do the same. We need to follow His example.

Showing compassion isn't always easy. But it's key to making this world a better place. We are called to love everyone, even the people who frustrate us or make us feel uncomfortable. We are called to spread a message of love.

Spread a Message of Love

As many of you know, I am reading the book unChristian, a book about what nonChristians believe about Christians and Christianity as a whole. Some of the topics are controversial and I want to blog today about one such topic. I usually try to steer away from controversy but this is a very important topic to me.

Many nonbelievers believe that Christians are antigay. As a Christian who grew up in the church, I have been taught that homosexual acts are sins. However, I have sinned and therefore I believe I have no place to judge others about their sins. As a Christian, I am called to love everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation. Love, not just tolerate.

“We are all sinners. No one is any more likely or less likely to receive God’s free gift of grace. All have fallen short of God’s standards.”

-David Kinnaman, unChristian

 There is one passage that often comes to my mind when thinking about sins.

“Jesus went across to Mount Olives, but he was soon back in the Temple again. Swarms of people came to him. He sat down and taught them. The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt. Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest.”

-John 8:1-9 (MSG)

In this passage, Jesus tells the men who were going to stone the adulteress that if they are without sin, then they can stone her. But all of them left, because all of them had sinned. Jesus showed grace towards the woman who sinned. This passage is important because I believe that in the same way, we are called not to judge others for their sins because we all have sinned. We all should drop our stones and walk away.

We need to spread love, not hate. Jesus never had a message of hate.

Jesus reached out to the outcasts, the marginalized, the judged, the destitute, the homeless, the lonely, the desparate… and I believe He calls us to do the same today. As a Christian, I believe I am called to show unconditional love towards everyone I interact with.

Am I perfect? No not at all. And that’s why I need Jesus in my life. I need His help to get through every day and to unconditionally love those around me.