"Showing The Love of Christ"

June 16, 2022 | By Chuck

    I want to show the love of Christ. What I mean is I want my actions and lifestyle to show others that I love Christ and that I love them. Hopefully, others will also see through me that Christ loves them. As Christians, we are to love God and love others. Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mt. 22:37-39). It doesn’t sound too difficult, does it? Put Jesus first in your life and try extra hard to handle every situation and all encounters with others in the most loving way possible.

            The one issue that becomes an unfortunate obstacle to our efforts is the division in our world. There’s even division about sin. Some say it’s a sin while others say it’s not a sin but a right to live and practice what you want. With this kind of division comes much controversy. I still want to show the love of Christ to all, especially those who disagree with me about sin. But, when I disagree with their choice to embrace sin, they see it as hatred instead of what it really is, love. If I know someone is in sin and I don’t say anything to them, that’s refusing to show the love of Christ. When I lovingly share my concern for someone’s sinful situation I do it out of love and to show them the love of Christ. How much do you have to hate someone to know they are lost spiritually and not say a word to them?

            Disagreeing with someone about sin is not hatred and it’s not wrong. Allowing someone in sin to believe they are okay and not in sin is hate and that is wrong. I’m not advocating condemning anyone because that’s not our role to play. I do believe we must show the love of Christ and at times that may mean standing in opposition to someone’s view of sin. Not easy, not popular but very necessary. “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness” (Gal. 6:1).