I am a Christian. And as a Christian I identify with that Wonderful Thing, created by God Himself, called Love! If not for this Marvelous Thing called Love, which God Himself ‘Is’ (1 John 4:8) I would be lost and on my way to hell. I am not ashamed to say that I ‘pull’ on the reigns of this Utmost Treasure each and every moment of my life.

I am, indeed, reminded that it was through Love that God performed two of His most profound Feats; Creation and Redemption. Through Love the world was formed (Jhn 3:16). Through Love Jesus went to the Cross for you and I (Jhn 3:16) and purchased those priceless Gifts of Salvation…Sweet Mercy and Grace. All He endured was because of His Love for mankind (Rom 5:6-8). There is an old cliché that says, ‘love makes the world go round’. And this is more true than it sounds, as it is only because of God’s Love that the world still spins…and we are not yet destroyed.

It is this Love, the very Love of God, which should run through the heart, soul and mind of every Christian. This Love should extend to one and all. I don’t care who a person is or what they’ve done. I don’t care what the reasons are that we might not like or approve of them, we are required, by the Word of God, to Love them! (Lk 6:35-42). We hate sin. As children of God we cannot help but hate it…but we ‘must’ Love the sinner (Jude 21-23). And though this is, at times, difficult to do, we are facilitated and enabled to do this when we look at ourselves in the Light of God’s Word. For, are not we ourselves – sinners (Rom 3:23)? Sinners…that are continuously forgiven, with repentance…over and over again? If we are honest with ourselves, we can admit that as human beings, we come short daily- in some way! That is; in thought, word, action or deed! It is not for naught that we daily ask God to, ‘…forgive us our debts (sins)…’(Mat6:9-13). Now, I don’t know about you, but to me? Sin…is sin! There are no ‘big ones’ and ‘little ones’. That is why Jesus warned us about judging people (Lk 6:35-42). For even the ‘mote’, a small as it is, is still a 'mote'!

I guess you’re wondering where I am coming from with this article. Well, here it is; we are all, of course, aware of  the travesty the happened in Orlando. Recently I have, to my deep concern, spied headlines on-line, in the news which attest to the fact that some ‘Christian Leaders’ felt that it was the wrath of God and they were, in fact, 'glad' that it had happened. At the time, I scanned, but did not thoroughly read the articles in detail...I could not. I went back on line just before posting this article and I find that all, but one, of these adverse news items seemed to have been removed. I was happy for this, as I was appalled  by such opinions and could not fathom how ‘any’ follower of Christ could do anything but empathize with such a terrible occurrence.

Let me explain myself. Of course, we know, God allowed this thing to happen. He knew the day, the date, the time and hour. And, He knew all those whom He was going to take out of this world. He knew it all. He knew the instrument that would be used to do the terrible deed and He allowed satan to enter that instrument and to carry out those murders. Yes, He knew. God allows things that we do not understand and have no answers for. This is substantiated when, only a few years ago, He allowed another evil-filled instrument to snuff out the lives of 26 people…20 innocent children included. Did they ‘deserve’ death? As far as we are concerned, no! But it was their time and God took them.

In Orlando God took 49 lives that were partying in a gay night club. I don’t see anything that separates the likes of them and the likes of me and you...do you? Aren’t we all guilty of breaking the Laws of God? Thus, my question to those that think they ‘should have died’ is…where’s the Love? Yes, the Word of God tells us that homosexuality is not of God. But, whether a person wants to look at it that way or not, is their affair. That’s between them and God, we are not here to judge them, we’re here to Love them, as God Loves us, in spite of us! So…where’s the Love? As  Christians, who believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ, many don’t approve of the homosexual lifestyle, neither do I…but…where’s the Love?

When one considers the various timely news reports that have come forth, we are made aware of some of the things that go on in some churches. I don’t care how Holy and Sanctified they are. I don’t care how covered-up they are or how low their hems are. I don’t care how righteous they appear, there are things that have been exposed in some churches, which will shock you…to say the least!  Why is it that some Christians can ignore the adultery, the fornication, the lying, the stealing, the polygamy, the hypocrisy, the ‘covered up’ homosexuality and incest in churches, but judge those that are openly gay? The same thing that goes on outside of churches goes on inside of some churches. The only difference is, the sincere saved Christians that are really following in Christ’s footsteps recognize their shortcomings and faults, and are honestly ‘trying’ to do better. But, certainly, if God was to send down His wrath on the wicked, as a warning and example…it would begin in the churches (1Pet 4:17)!

Why do we feel that we are greater than Jesus?! Yes, that’s what I asked. Why do we think we are greater than Jesus in that we cannot empathize with the sorrow of a country that mourns for the dead? Jesus did. When Jesus sat on that hill and looked down at Jerusalem and wept for her (Lk 19:41), He was, of course, weeping for the people in Jerusalem, who were ‘spiritually’ dead. Now, we don’t know ‘all’ the sin that was going on in Jerusalem but, you can bet your bottom dollar…somewhere…homosexuality could be found. And yet, Jesus, though He knew this, ‘wept’ for every person in that city. He wept because they were so blind, they could not see the destruction that they were headed for. He wept because, in spite of their sins…He Loved them! How can we do any less? How in the world do we discard Love and replace it with haughty condemnation?! The Word of God says if you say you Love God but hate your brother…you’re a liar(1Jhn4:20-21)!

Jesus was a man of ‘feelings’. Do you recall Him as He was entering the city of Nain and met the widow on her way to bury her only son? Can we think about this for a minute (Luke 7:12-16)? Was the young man sinless, do you think? Was he a perfect person? Was that the reason Jesus restored his life or was it because He ‘felt’ the widow’s sorrow? When Jesus wept at Lazarus’ death (Jhn 11:35) it couldn’t have been because Lazarus was dead, for He knew He was going to restore his life. He wept because He empathized with Mary’s pain at the loss of her brother. Jesus cared! He could relate to another person’s mournful heart. And He did this because He was…Love!

I am so glad that with all my imperfections (and there are many) I can relate to another person’s tears. I can ‘feel’ another person’s heart pain. And I am saddened and so disheartened to know that we still live in a world where…one group of sinners, think they are above another group of sinners. In the end we will ‘all’ stand before The One and Only True God, where everything hidden will be exposed. At that point there will be no more opportunities to give to others what we failed to give on this side.

Should we not examine ourselves? Should we not repent? Should we not stop and ask ourselves- Where is the…Love’?

1Corn 13:13,

copyright; jmsbell-6/29/2016