Image Copyright Ben Turner | sunsetgreen on Flickr
How we treat those we perceive as the worst or the least reveals who we are at our actual best.
Let me put this practically, how we “Christians” treat members of the LGBTQ community, who many perceive as an enemy of Christian values, or the poor who we consider the least, is a reflection of who we are at our best.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven;
for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
Therefore you shall be perfect (by loving your enemies), just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
—Matthew 5:43-48
https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.5.43-48.NKJV
We have one job, the same job God has been doing since the beginning: to make Himself known.
This is the same job Jesus came to do, not to condemn the world, but that through Him the world might be saved by making the Father known.
As the Father’s image bearers, everything we do says something about Him.
So, what are we saying about God with our attitude, approach and actions especially toward those with whom we differ sharply, namely regarding matters of identity and sexuality?
It is possible to stand on either side of this issue, liberal or conservative, and terribly misrepresent God.
Lies block love.
A perilous place to be is between God and what He loves.
“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!
If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire.”
—Matthew 18:6-8
Whatever we do, we must be careful not to lie on God. There are grave consequences.
Making known the truth of who He is the point of everything.
Here is what I know and what we should be saying:
“Dad is wonderful. He wants you home. He sent me to get you.”
God wants His kids.
It is not important how we perceive their state. What is important is, whatever they may be lacking, our Father will supply when they get home.
Our aim should just be to get them to the Father.
How we treat those we perceive as the worst or the least reveals who we are at our actual best. And that is determined by **whose** we are.
Are we behaving like children of the evil one, the father of lies whose sole objective is to obstruct a right view of God, in pursuit of our own will?
Or, are we reflecting our heavenly Father and looking like Jesus?
Communicating God’s character revealed in the face of Jesus Christ should be a Christian’s chief concern and a much greater consideration than “winning” the conflict.
What I choose at the heights of disagreement and from the depths of disrepute reveals who(se) I truly am.
I confess, I am not writing this from a position of having attained, or having it all figured out. I’m struggling as much as anyone and seeking God’s heart as we wrestle with the issues of our day.
I know one thing though. Jesus is saying,
“Dad is wonderful. He wants you home. He sent Me to get you.”
So, I should be communicating the same in all that I do.
“He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”
—Matthew 12:30
