On Thursday, American Christians were praising the people of Emmanuel AME Church in South Carolina for their sacrificial love: forgiving and showing mercy and extreme grace in the face of gross injustice. There were posts and 'likes' and comments and promises of prayers. Our church joined hundreds of other churches across the country and around the world in 'standing with our brothers and sisters and declaring they will not grieve alone'. The Church (big C) looked good as Jesus' brand of selfless love was reflected to the watching world. "Hate is powerful but love is more powerful." Amen.
On Friday, American Christians are once again posting and 'liking' and commenting, but this time on the SC's decision to legalize same-sex marriage and I feel sad to the point of 'sick'. How could the Church be so united one day and so divided the next? Are we really that fickle? That short-sighted?
I'm not even talking about the decision. That's an entirely different issue. I'm sad today about some Christians' very public response. The underlying (and sometimes overt) message I hear in so many comments is "We're right, you're wrong, and we're going to hold on to that 'rightness' in the name of Jesus because we have to stand up for what we believe!" I fear that's the message the world is hearing too. And as I'm called to be like Jesus, who 'only did what I he saw the Father doing', I'm asking myself if that's the message he would be speaking. I don't see Jesus defending himself and his 'rightness' (though he, of all people could have). He didn't stir up the disciples to defend him. (In fact, he rebuked Peter for defending him in the garden). I don't see Jesus hunting down the adulteress to say that he loves her, he just hates her sin. When the issue was forced on him in John 8, he didn't respond with bible verses, or even well-thought arguments. He gently reminded everyone that they too, sin. They too are wrong. And so am I. In more ways that I want to admit.
But Jesus also didn't ignore her sin. He just reminded her that she was made to live a better way. "Neither do I condemn you; go and from now on sin no more". I often wonder if she did. Was her life forever different because Jesus loved her enough to not condemn her sin, but challenge her to change?
That's the posture I want to have. I don't want to condemn others for sin. I can't. I sin too. But I do want to challenge it, and have it challenged in me. And by doing so, point to a better way by walking that way myself. Hate is powerful but love is more powerful.
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