For the Love of Marriage?

Christians in these waning days prior to Jesus' soon return are faced with many dilemmas. Christ commissions each believer to go forth and spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. However, there appears to be a disconnect between: what are salvation issues and legislating one's beliefs upon others. It is for this reason I ask believers to re-evaluate the message they shout and shove to have heard.

In our news, as recently as yesterday, June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court has debated and ruled regarding the definition of marriage. While it is true, the Old Testament calls homosexual activity an abomination, detestable, to the Lord (LEV 18:22); Jesus specifically tells us to "Love our neighbor, as we love ourselves" (MATT 19:19). In fact, if we were to follow the life question of "What Would Jesus Do?" we'd recognize all of mankind as our neighbor and greet them with love. 

This doesn't mean that we have to condone sin, but we should tolerate it. A sermon I listened to a while ago demonstrated that Christ, in an effort to show sinners the path to salvation, met people where they were, showed them the love and led them among His flock. I believe this is how we should live our lives, showing others the love of Jesus as a path to salvation. 

Many shouts against the above mentioned rulings have come in the form of condemnation and judgement, and this is in direct opposition to the way Christ led so many to salvation. While it is true, he showed anger toward the money changers and threw them out of the temple (MATT 21:12); by and large he loved people and then led them to salvation and away from their sins. Therefore, I propose, it will be by love and kindness that we win over followers, not by condemnation.

Do we really need to legislate morality, no Christianity? I seems so much of the debate recently comes from issues regarding the faith of the people. I thought this was one of the great reasons for our founding fathers to dream up this great nation of ours: the weaknesses of church ruled states. Should our churches have unlimited influence upon the administration of our country? I think not. That would lead our democracy straight into the jaws of a theocracy, and we all know how that affected Medieval Europe.

The Inquisition is arguably one of the darkest periods in the annals of the church, originally intended to ensure orthodoxy, an adherence to accepted norms. It developed into a blood-thirsty machine that devoured anyone who represented the least variation on orthodoxy... case in point, definition of marriage.

Do we persecute our neighbor? Judge our neighbor? Or show them the love of Christ and maybe, just maybe, help them with a salvation issue, accepting Christ as their personal savior. Since there is only one way to Heaven, and that's through Christ Jesus (ACTS 4:8-12). Once they've accepted Christ, the Lord will lay the burden upon their heart to cast any sin, the follower prayerfully feels convicted of, aside. Leave the conviction of the heart to God, the definitive judge. 

I firmly believe that God would not have a single soul lost to the fires of Hell, but He gave us each the will to choose. This will to choose is what this whole life on earth is about. Do we follow Jesus' example and live a life glorifying God? Or do we follow our prideful, judgmental, angry selves to the abyss... Well, you know where that path leads. Therefore, shout the love of Jesus, and His promises for salvation from the mountaintops!