Those who disagree with a Christian worldview often quote scripture in their defense. Why? If you don't believe in the scripture why quote it to defend your point of view? Because maybe by discrediting the Christian you might be able to rationalize your actions... ?
But really, whenever someone calls sin "sin," they are accused of judging, and we all know "do not judge." Christians are reminded that "Christians are supposed to love and accept everyone" and "are not supposed to judge" and "hurting people is wrong." Well, yes, in sense, this is true. Just a few of my thoughts:
1. "Christians are called to love people". Loving people and "accepting" them is not the same as condoning all of their actions. I love my kids but that doesn't mean I just let them do whatever they want and never tell them that they are wrong. It is, however, out of love that I correct my kids, wanting the very best for them. I love students in my youth group, and I accept them for who they are, but that doesn't mean I can't tell them when they make dumb decisions. It is out of love that I tell them. My dad has a completely different worldview than I do, the fact that we don't see eye-to-eye doesn't change my love for him. Yes, I think he is living in sin. And yes, I still love him. Naming sin is not the same as passing judgment. Not the same as hating. It is not mutually exclusive with love or acceptance.
2. "God loves and accepts everyone the way they are." Yes, Jesus invites ALL. Jesus died for all. God loves the world. And yes, Jesus accepts all. The thing about the love of God, however, is that it does not leave you unchanged. You cannot encounter God without being changed. While God's love for you does not change based on how "good" or "bad" you are, God's love does change you. God loves us so much that he does not leave us the way we are. This is GOOD news! He loves us the way we are, and loves us too much to leave us that way.
3. Do we forget about Jesus? As Christians, when we speak to issues in society, sometimes I think we get too caught up in discussion around particular issues and we forget to really talk about Jesus. Jesus is the Truth and the Life. Jesus is the one who gives hope. Jesus is the one who transforms. The one who saves. Yeah, it probably sounds cheesy. and no, people probably don't want to hear it. What are we really shedding light on a subject simply by sharing our "righteous opinions?" We may be well meaning, and we may be speaking about the truth, but unless we talk about Jesus we aren't really speaking truth. There is much value in dialogue (if it can be reasonable). There is value in sociological statistics, in reason, in life experience. The most important thing Christians can contribute to the conversation is to talk about the true solution to the problem of sin - Jesus.
But really, whenever someone calls sin "sin," they are accused of judging, and we all know "do not judge." Christians are reminded that "Christians are supposed to love and accept everyone" and "are not supposed to judge" and "hurting people is wrong." Well, yes, in sense, this is true. Just a few of my thoughts:
1. "Christians are called to love people". Loving people and "accepting" them is not the same as condoning all of their actions. I love my kids but that doesn't mean I just let them do whatever they want and never tell them that they are wrong. It is, however, out of love that I correct my kids, wanting the very best for them. I love students in my youth group, and I accept them for who they are, but that doesn't mean I can't tell them when they make dumb decisions. It is out of love that I tell them. My dad has a completely different worldview than I do, the fact that we don't see eye-to-eye doesn't change my love for him. Yes, I think he is living in sin. And yes, I still love him. Naming sin is not the same as passing judgment. Not the same as hating. It is not mutually exclusive with love or acceptance.
2. "God loves and accepts everyone the way they are." Yes, Jesus invites ALL. Jesus died for all. God loves the world. And yes, Jesus accepts all. The thing about the love of God, however, is that it does not leave you unchanged. You cannot encounter God without being changed. While God's love for you does not change based on how "good" or "bad" you are, God's love does change you. God loves us so much that he does not leave us the way we are. This is GOOD news! He loves us the way we are, and loves us too much to leave us that way.
3. Do we forget about Jesus? As Christians, when we speak to issues in society, sometimes I think we get too caught up in discussion around particular issues and we forget to really talk about Jesus. Jesus is the Truth and the Life. Jesus is the one who gives hope. Jesus is the one who transforms. The one who saves. Yeah, it probably sounds cheesy. and no, people probably don't want to hear it. What are we really shedding light on a subject simply by sharing our "righteous opinions?" We may be well meaning, and we may be speaking about the truth, but unless we talk about Jesus we aren't really speaking truth. There is much value in dialogue (if it can be reasonable). There is value in sociological statistics, in reason, in life experience. The most important thing Christians can contribute to the conversation is to talk about the true solution to the problem of sin - Jesus.
