The past few weeks have been filled with so many political conversations happening all around me. Between the presidential candidates in the US, and the happenings of Kim Davis and her clan so much has been said and done. I have no desire to enter into the political conversation in regards to these issues, but I have been silently observing many conversations between Christians and non-Christians regarding this. It has led me to see how it exemplifies a huge problem in the American Christian culture we have today, and I have prayerfully decided to share some thoughts on the subject. There is a difference between being a Christian and a Christ follower. There is a difference between evangelizing and condemning.

I have witnessed so many people unashamedly condemning others for their actions in the name of Christ through social media recently, and it deeply disturbs me. We often cite the pithy phrase “love the sinner, hate the sin” in defense of our verbal outbursts, but I don’t think this phrase adequately encompasses what we are called to do when the issue of sin arises. Instead, I think we are called to EMBRACE the person and lead them to the foot of the cross. From there, God will handle the sin. God is a big boy, and He can handle it! When we distinguish ‘sinners’ in this way, we are self-implying that we are somehow different than they are. We are not. We all fall short of glory, and all need to humble ourselves to a God who loves us enough to take our sin upon Himself. Jesus died on the cross, and died for us so we are no longer bound to the death sin brings. If we truly believed that God is bigger than sin, our response to sin would be one of concern and compassion; we would recognize that sin is a fallen world problem, and that the only way to move beyond it is Jesus. When we react to sin with hate, condemnation, and intense demands of ‘change or go to Hell,’ we are attempting to mask a prejudice towards something we don’t understand with a religious moral desire for change. If we actually loved the sinner, we wouldn’t condemn them, but would love them so much in such a large way that they would know Jesus like we do. When we instill in others a fear of hell and guilt based on their actions, we are NOT loving people! There is no fear in love! Don’t mistake my words and think that I believe we should smooth over sin. Sin is harmful to our very core, and it should be recognized as such. I hate sin and I pray earnestly that the bondage of sin be broken! But the battle has been fought and won! Light has conquered darkness! We need to start treating sin with compassion, sharing the truth of Life with those who are caught in it’s grasp. Freedom has been established for everyone! Treating sin with fear and anger only gives Satan a foothold in our own lives! This is a vicious cycle!

Furthermore, I am so very upset by the fact that people are condemning the actions of others from a religious moral perspective WITHOUT sharing the Gospel with them! Jesus died so that we can be apart from sin, and the only way this can happen is through Him. When we call the actions of others sinful yet fail to share with them the most important thing that has ever happened for them, we are acting out of a horribly selfish, and condemning way. Condemnation is to tell someone they are hell-bound without sharing with them the truth of Christ. Condemnation is to treat heaven like an exclusive club where we ‘don’t want your kind.’ This seems like a huge slap in the face to the cross! Jesus did not take the weight of our load upon His shoulders so that we could police the morality of the world and be exclusive with this message. Jesus hung on that tree so that everyone could be in communion with Him and that those who are in communion with Him would spread that good news to everyone!

When I see people calling strangers out on their actions and not sharing the love and truth of Christ with them, it honestly makes me wonder if they have ever experienced a true encounter with the living God! I know that the more I get to know the Holy Spirit, the more and more I want to share that truth with others. If you don’t feel like the God you know is a God worth sharing but is a God whose name is worth using for moral policing, then I would venture to say that you don’t know the same God I know.

If you believe that someone is headed towards hell because of their lifestyle, take a page from Jesus’ book and love them. Spend time with them, get to know them, live life alongside them, go to their house for dinner, learn about them, and share the truth you have with them.

If none of this sounds appealing to you, then what you spout is not love for the sinner, but hate (indifference at best) for the person who is not like you.

The church in America is declining because we are too lazy and proud to humble ourselves and live life like Jesus.

This has to change, and it has to change soon. The Holy Spirit is waiting for you to be an active participant in spreading the truth of the love and grace that have been shared with us. Are you willing to follow His lead?

“9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”

10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”

• John 4:9-10

6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.

8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”

9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

• Luke 19:6-9

P.S. If you have every been hurt by anyone through a declaration of God’s name, let me be the first to tell you that the God I know loves you more than you could ever imagine, and He has created you for amazing things. If you have been hurt by the church, please reach out to me for an apology and a hug. With Love, Jacob.