There is a huge part of society that needs to be reached with the love of God and yet it seems to me that all we Christians are doing is telling them what we do and don’t agree with. By the way, I hold my hands up as I have been guilty of this too. But what I find interesting is that while the devil keeps us busy with our differences of opinion, there is a very large chunk of the community that are missing out on knowing the love of Jesus because of our beliefs.
‘So let us in the first instance just come to a common and mutual ground – Jesus.’
He loves us so much that he died for us all, that none may perish! God loves us so much that he would come to the earth he created to reveal his loving kindness and to pay the ultimate price for our wrong-doings. We have all done wrong in the sight of our holy Father, God, and we all deserve hell but God in his mercy gave himself up for us on that cross, so that we can live with him eternally. Isn’t that just the greatest message we could ever hear? It is the same news for every one of us – despite our differences. So now that we have found this common ground, let’s start from here.
As brothers and sisters in Christ we are looked upon by our holy Father. He knows everything about us, good and bad. Yet he welcomes us all into his loving arms (because that is what a perfect, loving parent does). He desires that we get along and understands that we don’t agree on everything. He gives us free will to make our own choices in life and some are good for us and some can be harmful to us. His word guides us, helping us to make better life choices. If we disagree with his word or choose to ignore it then we eventually have to face the consequences. This is how life works.
Many a time I have said “focus on the solution and not on the problem” and I think this is where we are going wrong. We are focusing on our differences and debating over personal interpretations of God’s word, when
‘We should be uniting and reaching out to let people know that our loving Father God wants his children to come home.’
We should be ‘loving our neighbour’, welcoming them into the church, not criticizing their lifestyle. Would you have wanted to know God if the person revealing God to you told you all that was wrong with you and how you needed to change? You would say ‘no thanks, that’s not for me.’ Jesus didn’t point out the sins of the people, and remember, we all sin. No, he met each person where they were at, and he loved them in their situation. Yes he taught, but that was more about his Father’s kingdom and the religion of the pharisees.
So what better way to reach out to people of diversity than with like-minded people who have a deep love for God and are also understanding to these particular groups in society. Whether it be through worship, preaching, prayer, hospitality, evangelizing, administration, etc, it needs to be done. There is a whole range of ministries out there where people of the LGBT community can reach the lost with the love of Jesus.
“For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.”(2Cor.4:5).
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Gal.6:9).
Allow Jesus to love through you and let the Holy Spirit do his work in and through you, for God’s word says that ‘the Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth’ (John 16:13). I believe this. Do you?
“A new command I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)”.