Under countless social media posts regarding gay marriage, abortion or other controversial topics, there will be arguments. On one side are people in support of these ideas and on the other, many Christians. Somewhere in the flurry of text, someone will say one of two things: “It doesn’t affect you so just ignore it,” or “the Bible says to just love everyone.”
Neither of those statements are completely true.
The Bible does not justify being rude or hateful, and there should be respect between Christians and those with opposing views.
And Jesus did say love everyone. Matthew 22:39 said the second most important commandment is, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
But that’s not all he said.
He also said in John 13, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” How did he love? Beginning in Matthew 4, he taught and healed people, a power he later gave to his disciples.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 sums up what he taught: “Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Knowing this, when Christians see these things in other people, whether they are fellow Christians or nonbelievers, it is their responsibility to speak out in love. Besides loving God first and everyone else second, telling people about Jesus is the biggest thing Christians believe in. It’s the command Christians were given in Mark 16: “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation.”
His followers are supposed to do it as Jesus did. He met people’s needs through healing them, feeding them and forgiving them. He served them, even washing his disciples feet as an act of service and humility. He lived what he preached, and Christians are supposed to live the same way. No Christian is perfect. They have all done bad things, but they are striving to imitate Jesus.
Actions speak louder than words, and unfortunately many Christians’ action haven’t lined up with what they’ve preached or what Jesus taught. Kim Davis is standing up for marriage while she’s had four of her own, and Josh Duggar promoted family values while cheating on his wife. Members of the Westboro Baptist Church actively spread hate.
That doesn’t mean every Christian is a hateful hypocrite. Some Christians do just love you. That is why they tell you why they believe what you’re doing is wrong.
If you knew you could do something that could save the lives of people you loved, wouldn’t you do it? That’s how serious this is to Christians. James 5:20 says, “Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”
Love is an action, not just a word. To love someone is to want the best for them. Christians experience something people who haven’t met God have yet to experience. Christians can explain all day long how awesome life with him is but, until it’s been experienced, it’s impossible to understand.
It’s like trying to explain what a sunset looks like to someone born blind. Christians can’t shove this experience down people’s throats, but how selfish would it be to not say anything at all?
It comes down to one thing all Christians should be saying. I am not going to force Jesus on you or tell you you’re going to hell, but knowing him is the most peaceful, freeing, joyful and empowering experience in the entire universe, and that is an understatement.
Caitlyn Atkinson is an 18-year-old mass communication sophomore from Pride, Louisiana. You can reach her on Twitter @catkin105.