My Facebook homepage has recently filled up with red profile pictures with an equality sign. And it has equally filled up with people that follow Jesus sticking retaliatory profile pictures up, posting Scripture intended to stand against homosexuality, and a whole stream of comments coming after those things of them trying to defend their feelings toward this sin to people that see their arguments as bullshit.
I can't explain the frustration and hurt in my heart.
Maybe some people were raised in a sweet little Christian home where they began to follow Jesus because that's all they knew (that's great if that's the case). But, maybe some people didn't. Maybe some people, like me, found Jesus through their brokenness, their own self-hate and destruction, their own pain and depression, their own issues and sin. Coming from a girl that found Jesus through all that rubbish, I can tell you one thing I know to be very true:
When Jesus looks at you, when He looks at your neighbor, when He looks at your mother, when He looks at your best friend, when He looks at a prostitute, when He looks at those that have been divorced, when He looks at those that are addicted to sex, pornography, drugs, or spend their weekends getting drunk and trying to find fulfillment in the world, when He looks at those that compulsively lie, and when He looks at your homosexual friend, He is filled with love, not hate.
I don't believe that the first thing on God's agenda is anyone's sin. It is not making you feel like crap. It is not breaking you down and torturing you for sinning. And I doubt that the first thing on God's mind is your gay neighbor's choice to live together. I really doubt it.
I read the Bible,
I seek Jesus.
I seek His heart.
I re-read His life over and over.
And this is not the Jesus I know.
Jesus came to this Earth and stood for love. He did not for one second stand for hate. He stood next to those that were hated though, and He demanded a different sort of relationship by proving it through His life. One with love and not judgement. Those that were brought up to Him by others with the intention to have that person be called out, were lavished with forgiveness, love, and the opportunity for a new start.
And out of anyone that has the ability and authority to judge... it's Jesus. Not us.
Why do we feel as though it is our individual responsibility to use social media to call people out for their sins? Why do we feel like this is getting us anywhere? Has this gotten us anywhere?
Is this making people view Christians as people that place love before judgement?
Is this making people see you as a more loving human being?
Is this giving people an accurate view of Jesus?
Hm. Doubt it.
Is this what Jesus called us to do to the world? Go proclaim that we are sinning and go call out people for the individual sins they commit? Is this what He wants us to do? Start rants on Facebook and post on Twitter and post Instagram pictures to declare that we don't support a lifestyle or a community of people? How far would that get us? All it's doing is alienating us away from a group of people that are flesh and blood and bones, just as we are. If it's about sin, then maybe we need to all take a look in the mirror
Why do we feel that the only sin that we should be calling out on social media is homosexuality? Like, what? We pick and choose. We rate what's important, and then we put it on God as if He intends for us to see sin on a scale.
Am I the only one sitting here rolling my eyes, wanting to comment on everyone's rubbish and stand up for the God that calls us to LOVE, not judge. Am I the only one that has seen the repercussions of Christians senselessly pointing fingers at everyone else instead of taking a second to look at themselves for a change?
I am confused.
Where is judging before loving going to get us?
