Do You Throw Stones or Love?

throwing stones-001A mother has two daughters. She loves them both. One of the daughters has come “out”, she has chosen the way of a lesbian lifestyle. The other daughter is living with a man to whom she is not married. The mother, a believer, has rejected the one. The lesbian.

This mother’s rejection of one sin and acceptance of the other’s sinful choices breaks my heart. Both daughters have chosen sin. Both need the saving power of Jesus Christ.

God says that ALL have sinned and ALL sin separate us from Him. (1 John 1:10; John 3:23)

While I know that there is some debate in some circles, including some “Christian” circles about what is sin and what is not, I believe firmly that God’s word is clear on the subject of the homosexual lifestyle. (Lev 18:22, 20:13; Rom 1:27, 1 Cor 6:9; 1 Tim 1:10) In saying that, God’s word is also very clear about the sin of fornication (to have sex with someone to whom one is not married). (ICor 6:9; Rom 13:13; Heb 13:4)

According to God, both lifestyles are sin. Both hold the same eternal consequences of eternal separation from God. God sent His son Jesus to die for the sins of both of these daughters. His heart mourns over both of these precious creations of His.

What this mother and let’s face it, many in the church of Christ have forgotten is that God loves them both. When we were not beloved, He called us Beloved. (Rom 9:25; Rom 5:8) John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”

God loves sinners. He hates sin. I think we often forget that. We forget that the heart of God desires that all His creation would come to understand that ALL have been born into sin. We were born into the slavery of sin and are condemned to death. We forget why God sent His son Jesus. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it. (John 3:16)

I can’t help but wonder if this mother, if the church, if I would love both the homosexual and the fornicator (well really all sinners)  as God does would we have a greater opportunity to lead them to a saving knowledge of Jesus After all it is what God has called us to do. To love our neighbor as ourselves. (Luke 6:27-35 John 13:34; Rom 12:9 Rom 13:9-10).

1 Cor 13:1 reminds us that if we do not love all that we do is meaningless.

I guess what my heart is saying, FEELING, at this moment is we are called to love, not hate others. I have no right or authority to “stone” anyone for their sins. Our actions towards other’s should SHOUT the love of God not hate. We need to pray that God would help us LOVE the sinner and HATE the sin in the right way. In a way that brings glory and honor to His name. In a way that helps other see the Love of Jesus and causes them to want to know Him.

Do you love others as Christ does? He did not throw stones at the adulteress, He loved her. (John 8:1-11)

What about you? Do you throw stones by the way you treat sinners? Are your words, actions and thoughts toward the homosexual community like throwing stones? Do you judge this sin differently than others?

I pray for this mother, that she would be able to embrace both her daughters our of her love for Christ. Not in acceptance of either daughters sin but simply to love them with the love of Christ.

Instead of throwing stones at the sinners who are commenting sins we don’t like why not throw them some love? The love of Jesus.

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