“Love Means Truth”
We have an issue. It’s an issue that’s built around good intentions, but like most things today, we think along the line of an instant sensation of happiness, rather than a sustained, long-term, realization of happiness. Here’s the thing, when we are really honest, we already know what will really create this happiness, it’s just not as socially acceptable to discuss that our happiness comes from God.
What I’ve noticed: We rejoice when others rejoice. After all, that’s a scriptural principle, “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit and serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” – Romans 12:9-18
But does this scripture teach us to love by ignoring that someone’s soul is in danger of hell? Short answer… NOT EVEN CLOSE. God sent us, you and I, to seek righteousness and to seek souls. Sure we all have our own problems, but I would hope we never get to the point where we are celebrating our separation from God. But that is precisely what we see going on today.
If you didn’t know, June is Gay Pride Month. I can’t imagine what it must feel like to be so convinced that you are built differently than others, so I will not comment on the struggle that a lot of these individuals go through, but I can say this, God makes clear his requirements for those who would choose to follow Him. We can choose who we want to serve, either our own desires (James 1) or God. I know this isn’t a popular thing to talk about, but we don’t talk about it because we hate people who identify this way, we talk about it because we love them enough to let them know that they will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says this – Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
There’s a lot there. Do we have the courage enough to tell anyone, even ourselves, that these things are unacceptable to God? Do you Love them enough to tell them?
