Whoa, Bron. Christians have problems? Like...within their belief system? Isn't that a little...naughty to say?
Nope. I'll say it. I'll say it LOUD and PROUD. Christians, we've got some problems. I'm guilty of it and so are you. I'm gonna give myself and some others a pay on the back, though, because if you are a Christian and you have the capability to say you love a person that is gay or not a Christian or whatever, then YOU, my friend, are awesome.
Too many Christians have this issue. I like to call it the "love sin." It's when a Christian states that they have a good reason for disliking someone when that reason is, in fact, not a good reason at all! You've heard this before, I know, but the reason you don't like that person is because...they sin differently than you do.
Let me just list out the endless number of things I do when I sin...on a daily basis. Bear with me here, because I'm human and there's no possible way I can remember all of the sinful things I do.
1.) I gossip.
2.) I lie.
3.) I think terrible things about people ALL the time.
4.) I sometimes say those terrible things out loud.
5.) I curse (usually in my head, but not always.)
6.) I forget about Jesus and God.
7.) I rarely read my Bible (trying to get better, but this is because of number 6.)
8.) I give myself credit for things God should get full credit for. Like constantly.
There is so much more, I'm sure, but I can't even. A lot of people (and by people I mean Christians) would read this list and say, "She's a bad person. She calls herself a Christian? She makes us look bad."
When really, the very thing you're saying is what makes Christians look bad. The list I just created is what makes us RELATABLE. Which builds a common ground and what is common ground a huge opportunity for? Witnessing. Mind blown, right?!
I'm going to use two people as an example to make my point. Ellen Degeneres and Katy Perry. Why? Because I LOVE BOTH OF THEM and I know quite a few Christians who think they aren't allowed to love either of them. Ellen is a lesbian. Katy is a New Age believer. She believes in things like astrology and signs and such. Why some people think they just cannot love them because of this is beyond me.
I have gay friends. I love my gay friends. I also have non-Christian friends. I love them too. And it sickens me that there are even pastors that would tell me that I shouldn't be friends with those people when in reality that's exactly why I SHOULD be friends with them. I'm not there to "fix" them, I'm there to influence them. Maybe make them see things differently and get a new perspective on life.
With that, let me make this disclaimer. There are certain people that I understand need to distance themselves from people that are "lost." They will tell you they're more easily influenced than the person they'd like to influence. They'd be more likely to be dragged down than to pull up. I get that. I respect people that know their boundaries. But if that person is also the Christian that says they can't love or even like the people that are "lost," THOSE are the people that I have a hard time liking and loving. I still do, though! Because I'm a Christian.
I'm done ranting for now, but I hope the right people read this. I hope I put into perspective the love sin for those guilty of it. And I hope that as a Christian, you remember Luke 15:7 and Isaiah 55:11. I'm not gonna write it out for you. Look it up yourself and live it.
