No Haters Allowed

     Recently a professional NBA player 'came out'. He announced he was gay. The first round choice of the women's pro basketball association already stated she was gay. And, several sports reporters feel that professional football will soon have a few athletes join in revealing that they are also gay.

     For many years now, we have watched same sex couples search for buying a home together on major networks. We watch home shows, cooking shows, comedy shows and now we will watch major sporting events that openly profess alternative lifestyles.

     So, what is our response? (Us being Christians.)

     Well, read what Jesus specifically said about same sex couples. Well, He said nothing about it. The ministry of Jesus was about forgiveness. It was about inclusion, acceptance. It was about love.

     Jesus was about loving everyone. Even those we had thought we were to avoid. He preached to us to give to everyone, help everyone and love everyone. The only hate in the world was the hate that was directed towards us, not from us.

     Yes, Jesus taught not to sin. But, Jesus never said 'stop all sin, and then you can follow me'. If He did, no one would ever be able to follow. Because our Bible teaches that all of us are sinners. In fact, it says that if we say we are not (sinners), then we are lying. Jesus said to "come and follow me". HE said come as you are right now. Because who you are right now, "I love".

     Let me also point out that once we accept Jesus as our Savior, once we are baptized in the Holy Spirit, we still sin. We grow in grace. Come on, if happened right on the spot, this would be a wonderful world. Practically sin free. If Christ likeness happened over night, the world would also be a smaller place with those just being swept up to heaven overnight. We are fooling ourselves if we think church is filled with perfect people absent of sin.

     So now, we can understand also, that we don't have to be sin free to be useful in the Kingdom of God. Isn't it wonderful that Jesus can use us sinners. We who gossip, tell course jokes, look at thing we shouldn't, think of things we shouldn't, bend the truth, a little to prideful, and yes, Jesus can even use those who are a little too high and mighty.

     One message Jesus did make clear was that we shouldn't judge others. We need to focus on our change. We need to be kind, gentle, live our lives the way our Lord has instructed us. And, Jesus has instructed us to love others.

     Jesus has instructed us to love others. Yes, I repeated it because we forget to live it. We tend to revert back to the 4th grade mentality that I'm better than you because..............Two disciples debated who was first. Jesus taught that the last was first. Sometimes even Christians forget His messages. Please don't forget the message of love.

No haters allowed in the Kingdom of God.