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From Kim Davis refusing to issue marriage certificates for gay couples to the continued awareness of a police voice on brown and black lives, our nation is awash in justice and morality issues.
At the same time we are becoming a more polarized people. Twenty-first century media allows us to choose the voices we listen to so we often receive only one side of the story, whether left or right.
In the midst of this I wonder, how are we to love as Christians? What does it look like to manifest love like Jesus?
We have a tendency to romanticize the time period of Jesus’ life, but the utter reality is it was far more tumultuous than ours. Think about it. Only 30 years later Rome would destroy the temple. Between the pagan Romans, the Jewish majority and the religious leaders and sects, they were divided. That was a polarizing time.
In the midst of this scene Jesus arrives.
How would He love? Who would He love?
One thing is for sure: Jesus loved like none other. His love was scandalous. His love was offensive. His love was so lavish that it disgusted the religious leaders, a.k.a. pastors, of the day (Mark 2:13-17, Luke 5:27-39, 7:36-50, 19:1-10, John 4, and on and on).
How dare He, they thought. Doesn't He know that by not only being around these people, let alone accepting them, He is approving of their lifestyle and easing others astray? If He loves them, everyone will think it is all okay. Surely He is setting a bad example and giving people a very wrong impression. He will pay for this.
How did Jesus respond? Was He afraid of being called a sinner or a friend of sinners?
No. Jesus loved. He loved extravagantly. He showed immense grace.
What were Jesus’ views of these sinners? Did He view their actions as sin? Did He desire their repentance and redemption?
All signs say yes. But what was His chief mission? Love. Love well.
In the times we find ourselves in, it is easy to distance ourselves from the sin and pain of our world. May we not run away as the Pharisees did. May we instead be like Jesus.
May we be willing to be mocked for being too loving, too welcoming, too forgiving. Let's leave what others think or say of us to Jesus, like Jesus left it to God.
In this day with moral and societal divisions all around us, let us be like Jesus, extravagant in our love, and leave the rest to Him.