March 15 - Love them to Jesus

You’re listening to OKY. The place where we discuss what we believe and why we believe it to be true! After a week talking about sex and sexuality, yesterday we wrestled with a great question from Grace who asked, “Is it just me, or does it seem like people really do frown upon homosexuality sin more than others? And if yes, why do you think that is? In my opinion, I think people should show love and empathy to others, even if they are sinners. And what if you have a close family member or friend who is gay, aren’t we supposed to love people no matter what?”

 

I wanted to talk about another piece of her question. How do we actually handle the LGBTQ community, especially when they are our family members? 

 

This is delicate, and I understand each person has to come to their own conclusion on what God is leading them to do in regard with their family members. So let me just try and give some encouragement, starting with yesterday’s topic. Love over everything! ! ! ! ! ! People need to know that you love them before they know anything else! 

 

Let me help you with the Great Commission for a moment. 

 

Matthew 28:18 says this

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.

 

What is the progression of this command? 

 

Go take disciples of all nations. What is a disciple? 

 

The greek word here is - mathēteuō - meaning a pupil or learner. So the first thing we are to invite people into is a relationship where they learn something important. . . It’s not the rules and regulations God calls us to obey. What is the next part of the command? Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. IN order to baptize them in the name of the trinitarian God, they better be a pupil that learns and understands who this God really is. That’s the first part of the command. It is teaching all nations to have a relationship with the living God. Then, the final part of the command is - teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. 

 

So for me, there is a distinct difference between a person who claims to believe and know Jesus, and a person who has no idea what this is all about. They are in a different part of this journey. Those who have been baptized and claim to already know Jesus - they should be able to be called to a different standard. Because at that point, they are to be learning to obey everything Jesus has commanded. Someone who does not confess to be a Christian, who is struggling to understand why Christians talk the way they do and believe the way they do, my first job is simply to get them into a relationship where they understand the living God. I must introduce them to Jesus - not his rules. The Lord is relational. He wants all people to know him and be brought into relationship with him first and foremost. It is only through relationship that we learn to obey everything he teaches us. 

 

Listen to 1 John 5:3

This is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

 

Why aren’t God’s commands burdensome? 

 

Because when you actually come into relationship with the living God, you want nothing more than to continue in his presence. This leads you to obedience of his commands in a way that is pleasing to him. 

 

See, I will never expect a non-christian to begin acting in a way that Christians should act. That’s the path of maturity after learning to follow Jesus. But the first step is to follow Jesus. 

 

So for all of you who have friends living alternative lifestyles, love them to pieces! Don’t try to change them or tell them their actions are wrong. Introduce them to Jesus! After all, it is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict! Not ours! 

 

So what about a family member, how do you handle this? 

 

Well, you love them! You spend as much time with them as you possibly can so that you can show them who Jesus is! I make it my point not to tell others what I believe unless it is in a safe conversation that I am invited into. I do not openly give my opinion to someone about their lifestyle without them asking me to speak on it. 

 

I personally would never go to a gay wedding. For me, marriage is such a sacred thing, that I feel the concept of a same sex marriage to be a blatant disregard of how God created marriage. I will not participate in that. However, I will bring them dinner, invite them over, find ways to have relationship with them. And should they ask why I didn’t go to their wedding, I will be ready to have a reason that helps them understand where I stand with marriage. Hopefully a door gets opened to tell them the love of Jesus. 

 

Because that’s what it is all about friends. 

 

We must be people who present Jesus to the world around us. That can only happen when we are full of love, and show others who Jesus is. So love, love, love. And when you are done loving - LOVE SOME MORE!