I apologize, but this blog is going to be more rant than calm discussion, and I would understand if some people don't agree with what I have to say. But I hope that all of you will.
This type of hatred needs to end. What is it accomplishing? Nothing positive.
As Christians, we are to look to Christ for our example in our daily living. So let's do that.
Read John 4.
Then read it again.
Now put yourself in the time period of Jesus. This was a woman. This was a Samaritan woman. This was a promiscuous, Samaritan woman. I mean honestly, in the time period she could not have been worse.
Scripture tells us that Jews had no dealings with Samaritans, and if possible even less dealings with Samaritan women. Scripture also tells us that this woman had five husbands, and was living with a sixth man.
Did Jesus condemn this woman? Maybe you could argue that He was condemning her in verses 16-18, but I think that is a misreading. She knew what she was doing was wrong in the deepest part of her heart. Jesus didn't need to tell her. Condemnation was not the point of this encounter.
Rather, Christ here demonstrates just how deep His love goes- by telling her the truth in the most loving and respectful way He could.
Scripture makes it clear that God hates sin. Seriously hates it.
Jesus hated how this woman was living. But it did not affect how much He loved her.
I wonder what would happen if we displayed Christ's compassion today to the people we don't agree with.
If you spend fifteen minutes with anyone who is not a follower of Christ, you are more likely than not going to find out the reason why they don't want to follow Christ is because they've somehow been scorned by the "church".
The world thinks we're hypocrites. The world thinks we're close-minded. The world thinks we're bigots. The world thinks we hate them. Why? Because this is the message "we" send when things like this incident with Ellen happen.
How can we expect anyone to want to know Christ if this is the Christ we show them?
It's okay to hate how someone is living. It's okay to hate the choices people make. But it is not okay to hate the individual.
If we as CHRISTIANS could love on the people we disagree with, instead of furthering their suspicions, this world could change.
Now I do not want for a moment to put words in Christ's mouth, however judging by His actions in John 4, it would seem that Christ doesn't want us to boycot, ignore or condemn those who aren't in His kingdom. Rather it would appear that we are called by example to reach out to those apart from the Kingdom, tell them the truth, and love them regardless.
My challenge (for myself) and hopefully all of us, is to intentionally reach out to someone we disagree with- love them unconditionally, and see what happens.
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