A Balance of Love

Many of us who grew up in the Bible belt going to church each Sunday, attending Bible studies, youth group activities and those things, have not often met any challenge to our Christian belief. With a church on every corner, and Sunday worship commonplace, we were immersed in a culture of Christianity.

As such, it was typical to develop certain views that we might carry as we move out of the home and into the real world. Even in college, it was possible to be quite actively involved with a church, and still not see much outside of the stained glass window view. I wish I had known more about the faith, and been challenged to develop my understanding of why I believe what I believe as I was growing up in the church. More often it was simply the common routine of the week. It was easier to simply go with the flow, or in my case, read a few books and develop a set point of view, that did not need challenging, and which suited me just fine.

And, fifteen years ago, that was an easier road to take. It seems now, there is so much disruption in our culture over a number of hot button issues, that it isn’t quite as easy to maintain the same distinct Christian worldview at all times. Just as we physically and mentally mature, so our faith must often mature with us.

As a Christian, I do still want to hold to the primary theological truths that make up the faith (or else why bother tagging myself “Christian”), but I also understand, there are many key issues that the church and Christians have taken a stance on in the past, that are now being revised, or rethought in an effort to match the cultural shifts we are seeing today. This can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on our approach.

For many Bible Belt believers, we grew up somewhat sheltered from the non-Christian world, and real life interactions with non-Christians. We may have known coworkers or friends who didn’t believe, but it was quite common for the casual Christian to not bother ever speaking up about their faith, in an effort to not rock the boat. And, within the Christian culture that concept has been acceptable for quite some time. We often forget that Jesus was not afraid of being around sinners of his day in order to more completely make them aware of a better way through love and acceptance of their humanity, even while not specifically accepting their sin.

Jesus being around prostitutes, for example, does not mean he was an avid supporter of prostitution, nor should he have been. What it did show was that the mindset of the religious leaders of the time was so focused on morality and theology, they had forgotten to reach out to those in need, or show God’s love to others.

Jesus turns the religious leaders on their heads by having meals with prostitutes, thieves, tax collectors and other unseemly people of the day. In no way does this make Jesus an advocate for those lifestyles or sins. What it did; however, is show those people that there was another way, and in their situations at that time, a better way. But, it was not done by pointing out the immorality in a condemning fashion. It was done by loving the person, and then, simply asking they go and sin no more, or go onto a more fulfilling path.

And, though not meant as a cure all for our happiness, Christ’s teachings do in fact lead us to a better way of life. We learn to love one another, to help those in need, to look out for our brothers and sisters, and in effect to show God’s love to those who might otherwise not hear or know about it.

As Christians, we are taught to sanctify ourselves daily, to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Fear and trembling seems to imply then, that there will be some discomfort, even for the person who has put their whole faith in Christ and His word. The Bible is cut and dry on many issues, but it does not always speak directly to everything. I do believe it is the inspired Word of God, I won’t deny that. But, I think in some ways, modern Evangelical (and other types of) Christians are missing the point on a number of aspects of Christ’s teachings.

Before I nitpick too much, I will admit that I do have my own sins and struggles, even as a professing Christian. In fact, maybe that is the most important thing for Christians to acknowledge when asked about their faith. We are not meant to be white-washed tombs- externally displaying perfection while internally housing decay and death. We are a work in progress, just as all of the heroes of the faith were at one time.

Abraham went against God’s will and had a child with his servant, Moses murdered a man in what he perceived as righteous anger, Paul (While still Saul) killed many followers of Christ before having a conversion experience and going on to be one of Christianity’s strongest fathers. Humanity and humans are broken, and our churches and Christian homes should not be afraid to let the outside world know that we also struggle in this life.

Now, do we actively sin for the purpose of showing we still fail as Christians? No, that would be missing the point. We should not seek sin. But, we should know that even if Christ is the primary focus of our life, we are going to fail at times. Those who preach perfection, and overcoming in the name of Jesus speak only a partial truth. We are over-comers, and we have Christ as our mediator in the end, but our daily struggle is still real.

So, for the Bible belt believers, surrounded by a changing culture, can we afford to forget how to love those who are different than us? We are on a path now which I am starting to feel paints us more as the Pharisees than the disciples Christ intended us to be. On one far end, we have hate speech and racism bleeding back into the faith, much as it did in the sixties. Remember, the KKK considered itself a Christian organization, and I think everyone can agree that was not the way Christ meant for us to act towards others. We have petty disagreements which end up blowing into nation wide events, that only seek to paint our faith as unloving, and uncaring for those who are different, or who do not believe the same as we do. Then again, on the other end of the spectrum, we have Christians essentially denying aspects of the faith that form the core of Christianity to begin with, sometimes to the point it would be more honest for them to simply drop the title of “Christian.”

I think we must hold fast to the truths of the faith without neglecting our fellow humans. If the path Christ taught is meant to better us, and to lead us into the existence that was meant for us in the beginning, we ought to make sure we are presenting that road accurately, and lovingly.

Is every Christian meant to go to a street corner to preach the gospel? No! Is every Christian going to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit as strongly during worship? No! There are absolutes in the faith and there are matters of preference, or individual style which God has ingrained in our hearts.

None of us are 100% correct. I can study theology for the rest of my life and develop the most accurate representation of Christ’s teachings that anyone has ever done, and I’ll still not be 100% on mark. There is a message somewhere in that statement. We may be a new creation in Christ, and the old nature may pass away, but it does not forever leave us while we still abide in this world, and we are not going to get it 100% correct.

So, if my theology says that I must not support a certain behavior, do I need to immediately blow off, condemn or ignore someone who practices that behavior? The answer, if we mean to win hearts to a better way of life, should be a resounding no! I cannot run around treating people differently, regardless of their sins or even my own. And, just as Christ with the prostitutes, we are not advocating those vices, but simply showing the person there is still love for them, and that they need not turn to those vices or bad decisions as a crutch for what feels missing in their lives.

To the woman who the religious leaders of Jesus’ day intended to stone for being an adulterous, Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you, but go and sin no more.” Notice, He did not say, “hey it’s cool to be loose and continue living that way.” He said, to paraphrase, “look, I know you are hurting, and I am not here to hurt you more, but there is a better way, I love you, but do not let your lifestyle or your sin take hold of you, do not be a slave to it.” I’m not attempting to put words in Christ’s mouth, but rather to point out that even in the midst of loving, he commanded to not sin.

So, there is a balance to be had, and being on the extreme right or left of the spectrum is not doing anyone any good. We can love, and encourage to better show a new way of living. We can share our own struggles and hurts in our humanity, so we are not the white-washed tombs, or the people with large blocks of wood in our eyes trying to remove the specks of wood from the eyes of others. We need to not actively make ourselves into hypocrites, though I realize hypocrisy may very well be a struggle or sin for some Christians.

Christians are called to make judgments within the faith in terms of accountability, yes, but not to the outside world in the same way. Paul says in Corinthians that God will judge those outside the faith. This implies to me, we are meant then to love them, and bring them to a knowledge of a new life following Christ. We are also to compassionately rebuke one another within the faith, as necessary, so that once we commit to follow Christ, we hold one another accountable. But, even then, it doesn’t mean there is perfection within that faith. Again, a balance is to be had.

So, why not try a balance going forward? Say hi to the coworker who you wouldn’t normally greet because of their attitude or lifestyle. Have a meal with your friend who believes differently than you and let your light shine in your attitude and your love, not in cramming theology in their face. Theological knowledge and growth can come in its proper time for those who choose to follow Christ, but God drew us in initially with love, should we not also do the same?