Dear Christians everywhere,
Please, please don’t use your religious faith as an excuse to justify discrimination or to not show loving care. When you do, you’re missing the point of the gospel completely and doing more harm than good. It’s truly an embarrassment.
When the pregnant 13-year-old needs a safe home to stay in, offer yours.
When the 80-year-old convicted murderer dies in prison and you’ve been asked to be the casket bearer in a memorial service of less than 10 family members, you carry that casket with a humble respect.
When the adulterous male or female is in need of a friend when all the other church friends have scattered, instead of murdering his or her spirit with ugly stones, be the one with kind words and a non-judgmental listening ear.
When the Pastor’s daughter is getting ordained in your church, show up and give her a big supportive hug.
When the man with HIV AIDS is dying and you find him at home to weak to get our of bed and covered in his own feces, gently carry him to the bath and clean him up, strip and wash his linens, and carry him back to bed with the strong loving arms the Lord has blessed you with.
When the drunken man wearing pajama pants arrives late to church and walks down the center isle, be the first to go and give him your best warm welcome.
When the church attending mentally ill, drugged up mother needs help, instead of standing off to the side speaking gossip, be the one to help. Make sure not to forget her spouse and children as well.
When those of different race and color show up to your church, go over, introduce yourself and tell him how happy you are to see him. In fact, invite him over for dinner – and all his friends too.
When those from a different country move into your neighborhood, bake them a pie and welcome them to the area.
When the Ethiopian nurse of Muslim faith shows up to your home to care for your child for the night and she holds a belief that dogs carry evil spirits and believes it is wrong to even be touched by one, you place your dog in the kennel before she arrives. Then, respectfully, welcome her into your home and thank her for the loving care she provides to your child.
When you find the non-church attending, tattoo laden, Samaritan on the other side of the street in need of loving care, go over and offer all you have.
When you see something that you disagree with on social media, instead of firing off judgmental hate filled words, respond with loving kindness instead, or even maybe better yet, don’t say anything at all.
And please, if you’re a Christian owner of a cake business and the gay couple asks you to bake them a cake, in love, bake them one of the best cakes that you can.
What is wrong with this world? I am. Guess what, so are you.
In the words of John Stott: “Every Christian should be both conservative and radical; conservative in preserving the faith and radical in applying it.”
When I read the gospels, I read that Jesus came to be a friend to sinners. I don’t know about you but I am so thankful for that because it tells me that He came for all. In fact, my Pastor has shared these words in his sermons, “We are more sinful than we ever dared to imagine and we are more loved than we ever dared to believe.”
Don’t let your religious faith prevent you from being the hands and feet to those who so desperately need it. Don’t allow your religious beliefs to cloud your view of being able to see Jesus in the least of these.
This very well might not be received as a popular post. That’s okay. Last I checked, Christianity wasn’t very popular now days. However, these are the thoughts that kept me up last night. These are the thoughts that I just had to get out.
Friends, go forth and do what you can to show the radical love of Jesus today. The world needs it.
My father, in the orange shirt, carrying the casket of the 80 year old convicted murderer. He did so with a humble respect.
The Beautiful Gate 
You are a wise woman, Ann-marie! Thank you so much for your thoughts!
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Thank you so much for your comment, Kelly! I appreciate you and your kind words! Christian love stretches us but it has the power to transform lives and disrupt everything in the best way.
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Absolutely amazing post! Love this Rachel. Really. Most recently read “Love Does” and “Everybody Always” both by Bob Goff. Completely changing the way I think about what love should really look like. Actually, completely changing my life. I just want to be that. Be love. Your post reminds me of the multitude of ways to do this every single day. Love to you friend!
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I know! Isn’t it so difficult to walk faithfully as well as in pure love in these situations? As imperfect as I am as a parent, I try to find wisdom in the “difficult to love” situations by remembering that as much as I love my kids, God loves HIS kids infinitely more. When my child is making decisions that will harm him/her or in disobedience, I lovingly and patiently correct them and pray for their heart with the goal of helping them to make better choices in step with God’s will for their lives. I don’t turn my back on them, speak ill of them, avoid them or destroy them with my words. But I also don’t celebrate or encourage them to continue on in choosing what will hurt them because I just want them to feel loved. Sometimes I show them the greatest love possible by reminding them I love them way too much to leave them on a destructive path. Thank the Lord that he does the same for me! Indeed, “what would Jesus do” as Rita wrote.
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Sweet friend,
Thank you for your comment and I so appreciate the feedback! Your right, I should have included the reminder of our Christian responsibility to also speak truth as we show love because I totally agree. Knowing your heart and the way that you would explain to the owners of the businesses that would support child incest or the strip club, would be out of love and respect. I wish every Christian could respond in this way. Maybe it’s me, but it just feels that the attention on social media of those who call themselves Christians do not handle the situations with love first. What would be the best way to show Christian love to the strip clubs, pimps, witches, racists, etc, etc? I don’t have all the answers and I need prayer and the Spirit to help give me wisdom. I just know that God asks us to love first and foremost. It’s by our love that the world will know that we are Christians. May He help us as we navigate this world and to walk in the example of His steps and His words!
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Wow….what a powerful message. In a world that feels like it is full of hate and intolerance it is so refreshing to hear someone else speak what I believe. As the saying goes, “What would Jesus do”. I think most of us would agree he would not do as so many Christians of today do, speak about their Christianity but turn a blind eye to those in need if they don’t agree with who they are or what they do. God Bless you for sharing your message and being radical in your beliefs. The world could certainly use alot more people just like you.
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Another beautifully written post, my dear friend! Thank you for the challenge to live boldly outside of my comfort zone and to ask Jesus to help me first see those who may be vastly different from me through HIS eyes. I needed this reminder today. One thing that I felt was missing in this was our responsibility to also speak truth as we show love. As a creative professional I admit I may have a slightly different perspective on the case of the cake baker. If a potential client contacted me and asked me to design a brochure for them in support of their group which celebrates child incest, I would politely and respectfully decline this job. Or how about a postcard for the strip club that is known to employ teenage girls? Maybe a BOGO promotional sign at the e-cig shop that is hoping to attract middle schoolers? I would respectfully explain why this would be in conflict with my convictions and Christian walk, and in a clear conscience it is not something I can support or condone. They will have to go elsewhere for their design needs. I would have to say no to the income as well as risk being slandered on social media. Then, I will earnestly pray that my Lord who loves them enough to die for them, will work mightily in their hearts so they might turn to Him in repentance. Should we use our religious faith to justify discrimination? Absolutely never! Should we allow love to silence the conviction of the Holy Spirit and God’s absolute truth? Also, no. Walk in love and truth… always hand in hand, never one at the expense of the other. Thank you for spurring me to wrestle with the areas where, out of fear, I may be tempted to avoid exercising His love! Your courage and welcoming, loving spirit is ALWAYS an inspiration to me!
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