Once again, I am directing this post at Christians, as non-Christians have no reason to believe or agree with what I’m writing. And the word “Christian” will often appear in quotes since people who label themselves as such are making a certain claim that is addressed below. Whether they are a Christian or not—only God knows their heart.
There seems to be a growing sentiment among believers that expressing love is Jesus’ sole focus, and that the truth of His Word should take a back seat. He is interested in loving and welcoming everyone to the point of ignoring their sinful lifestyle—or so we are led to believe. In particular, this belief surrounds some professing Christians today who are promoting acceptance of “Christians” living the LGBT lifestyle within the confines of the church. It’s certainly not the only sin being treated as normal or with blinders on, so my purpose here is not to single one out. I’m just mentioning an issue of the day as a launching point.
Should all people feel welcomed and loved at church on Sunday? Absolutely. Should we seek out non-believers where they are? Jesus did this all the time. We do this at Feed the Hunger as well. We don’t inventory each volunteer’s sins before they are allowed to pack food with us. Everyone is invited to help. Anyone is invited to receive the food as well. However, we don’t hide who we are or Whose we are.
It seems to me that emotions are guiding this particular belief that “love trumps all”. Maybe this is because a “Christian” we love is embracing a particular sin. Maybe we’re not steeped in God’s Word enough to know it or to express love and truth simultaneously. Maybe we can’t bear to grasp that our loved one may go to Hell for eternity; the Bible says they won’t go to heaven while walking in such open rebellion of His ways (1 Corinthians 6:9–11). We don’t “go on sinning so that grace may increase”. Read all of Romans 6. It’s not our life to live as we please anymore.
Make no mistake about it though: even if personal emotions or convictions have changed towards a particular sin, this has no bearing or impact whatsoever on the truth of God’s Word. And quoting verses out of context to justify sinful actions has only led to countless lives lost or damaged. Sin has always been sin, even if a portion of “Christians” have abused Scripture throughout the ages to justify these actions (see slavery, racism, sexism, etc.). Yet, this abuse doesn’t mean the Bible isn’t right or true. Man is just deeply flawed, looking to rationalize personal opinion, bias, and desire under the banner of the Bible.
So, back to this misguided belief about love. There are “Christians” I personally know and care about who are struggling with issues like alcoholism, adultery, and deceit. Do I tell them not to worry about it, that Jesus loves them anyway and love is all that matters? Is love the get-out-of-Hell-free pass on the Monopoly board of life? Show me the Bible verse (in its context) that tells me encouraging and endorsing a professing Christian to continue sinning is the correct path.
We are not supposed to judge other Christians, some might respond. This statement is just an incorrect interpretation of Matthew 7:1–5. You can read more about this in a previous blog post entitled “Can I Judge You?” This passage simply states that there is a proper way to confront a fellow believer who is sinning. It involves checking for and dealing with our own hypocrisy first. We’re not supposed to permanently leave our friend’s sin unchecked. It’s quite the opposite.
Guess what: confronting another believer on sin is not pronouncing judgment either. This is another lie. God actually expects us to do this. BUT, we’d better do it with love, repentance, reconciliation, and restoration as our motivation (see Matthew 18:15–20). Don’t take my word for it. Read both of these straightforward passages in Matthew for yourself.
If a person becomes saved, then their discipleship journey should begin under a mature Christian(s). This includes admonishment to reject, struggle against, and fight any and all temptation and sin. Their life is no longer their own. Through the help of the Holy Spirit, their actions will become more Christ-like and less rooted in the flesh. This is true for all of us who believe. We will fail, we will stumble, but we press on and strive to live like Christ. See Romans 7:14–25.
After a personal encounter with Christ, Zacchaeus paid back the people he’d cheated financially (Luke 19:1–10). Jesus told the woman caught in adultery to “leave your life of sin” (John 8:1–11). He told the paralyzed man to “stop sinning” (John 5:1–15). Jesus expects life change after heart change. He didn’t say do whatever our heart desires because His love is all that matters.
Our struggle as Christians against sin is a tug-of-war that has already been won, but because we are still stuck in sinful flesh, the battle rages on (see Romans 7 again). At least we’re supposed to battle it and not give in.
The Bible is clear that we can’t hear and obey the Holy Spirit after we have chosen to continually rebel. God will then allow us to be turned over to our own lusts and desires (Psalm 81:12; Romans 1:18–32). This is a dangerous road with eternal consequences, and it’s taking place in the American church today through the endorsement of certain lifestyles far beyond just homosexuality, including things like greed, gluttony, and adultery.
As believers who are in the Body of Christ, we are to encourage unity and maturity. Through “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15), we are to pursue righteousness and holiness together. Part of this is confronting anything called sin that some segments of “Christians” are trying to pass off as permissible.
Don’t take my word for it. Ephesians 4 covers everything written in this post. Yes, we reach out. Yes, we love. Yes, we forgive. No, we don’t do life as believers by selectively applying and obeying God’s Word.