A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 13:34
If you love Jesus and say you are a child of God, read that verse again…and make it your mantra. Because there are too many people who claim to be Christian’s who walk around this world in an awful state of judgement and anger towards our brothers and sisters.
I’d like to point out that it does not say, “only treat people who agree with you on every topic with respect”. Jesus refers to everyone. Whether an individual acknowledges God as their father and Jesus as their savior, He still is just that. That means they are also a child of God and should be treated as such by us.
Everyone, not just Christians, get too caught up in the things that divide us rather than the things that unite us. It’s very easy to do! But as Christians, we are united by an awesome God who loves in such a way that it should radiate through us to the point that when people look at us and hear our voices, they have no choice but to see the love of God coming through us.
How can we do that with hate in our hearts?
It doesn’t matter what church a person goes into and whether you think they are right.
It doesn’t matter what party a person votes for and whether you think they are wrong.
It doesn’t matter the color of a persons skin.
It doesn’t matter where a person is from.
It doesn’t matter if you agree with someones sexual orientation.
It doesn’t matter how much money a person has in their bank account.
What matters is that they are a child of God, just like you and just like me. Share the gospel with them and love them. Don’t belittle, call names, judge, gossip or hate because they are different. That is not Christian behavior and anyone who claims that it is needs to reread scripture again and have a little talk with Jesus!
People confuse love with the condoning certain things or the need to correct people all the time. That is not love. Call sin what it is, yes, but never judge.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 is engraved on my wedding ring for a reason.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
We are called to love all people, just as Jesus loves us.