by Michael Terrian I remember as a young person, I was bullied quite extensively in grade school and I remember many times being very angry and confused. I really wasn’t sure what the right attitude was for me. I was born and raised in church and I knew right from wrong. I knew I was supposed to be a good person, but I have to admit I was angry often times because of what was happening at school. At a young age it was difficult to love my neighbors, because they were the ones wrecking my life. They were the ones seeking to tear me down and destroy me. I didn’t like to feel this way. I wanted to be the happy-go-lucky boy that was always looking to make life more enjoyable and fun. Sometimes it meant causing mischief and getting into trouble. I also found during that time that those who were “Christians” and went to church with me would do some of the same things to me. There were times when I was punched in the arm until it brought tears to my eyes. I would be tripped and knocked down in front of my peers. This was very embarrassing and at times I was very confused and frustrated. I would often think to myself, if this is what being a Christian is about, then I don’t want any part of it. There was nothing to motivate me to be a Christian as a young person when I would see my examples of Christ treating me the same way the world was. It was very confusing to me and it would often build anger inside of me. It doesn’t take very long before you build walls around your emotions. Things aren’t as fun anymore because you’re not sure if someone is going to ruin it for you. I didn’t like feeling this way. On the flip side of that, there were always elderly people in my church, most of the time they were ladies, who would truly show me the love of Christ. This was big for me. I needed to know that being a Christian was real. I needed to know that what I heard from the pulpit could really happen in hearts of believers. There were many people in my life that influenced me in a positive way. They truly were the beacons of hope for me in my young world at that time. The power of influence is incredible, especially when you’re young and very impressionable. When these incredible and awesome people in my life would shine the light of Jesus on me, it was powerful. Times like those are cherished for a lifetime. “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” - Matthew 22:37-39 This is not a suggestion but rather a commandment. Jesus is admonishing us as Christians that we are to follow these two commandments. We are to love the Lord our God with all that is within us and, just as importantly, we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. This love puts the needs of others before our own needs. Think about what Jesus set aside so He could be beaten, scorned, humiliated and then crucified for the needs of sinful man. “For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘You shall not covet’ and if there is any other commandment, all are summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” - Romans 13:9-10 Love does no harm. What a powerful statement! If we love as Christ loved us, then we will treat people as Christ would treat them. It is impossible to hate and love at the same time. You cannot love a person and hate them equally. You cannot treat someone with compassion and malice simultaneously. It is impossible. Even when our enemies seek to destroy us (and there will be times), how we respond to them dictates our love or lack of love for fallen and lost people. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13:34-35 If we are to be an example of Christ, then how do we treat others? We do not have the right or the privilege as Christians to be the bully. If we truly are a “Christ follower,” then we show love and compassion. We live to build each other up; we don’t exist to tear each other down. How will the world see the love of Christ if we don’t show it to them? “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” - Matthew 7:12
13 comments:
"Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."
If love is the fulfillment of the law then why is love between 2 men or 2 women against the law?
Take this to heart: Think about those being beaten, scorned, humiliated and then crucified for the needs of yourselves.
Anytime you put yourself on a pedestal above others, anytime you do not treat your fellow man as an equal, you are sinning.
God didn't put any asterisks in the Bible. There is no small print at the bottom of the page, or an addendum in the back.
Only Gods true word.
//If love is the fulfillment of the law then why is love between 2 men or 2 women against the law?//
Anonymous, can it be called love to live a lifestyle that is in violation of God's Word? Can it be called love to encourage sin? Scripture has another 4-letter word that starts with an 'l' to describe such things.
So love between one woman and one man is just that: Love.
How is that any different then 2 men loving each other, or 2 women?
What does God call it when an 96 year old millionare marries a 22 year old woman? I supposed thats covered under one woman one man.
Where does the Bible draw the line?
I'll give you the answer: It doesn't.
The Bible does not draw the line, only self-righteous, self-serving people like yourselves do.
It does not matter if it is a homosexual relationship, a heterosexual relationship, an old man with a young woman, or even an adult with a child (that argument is coming VERY quickly in society). Can it be love when one is in sin, or when one encourages each other in sin? My question applies to all those scenarios. As the OP says, Love does no harm. As you said in your first post. God did not put any asterisks in the Bible. So why are you putting some in there? It's very clear what is sin and what isn't. It's very clear what love is and what it isn't. It's very clear what marriage is and what isn't.
But let me ask you. Did you even read the blog post? Because your arguments have absolutely nothing to do with it.
Im not the one putting in asterisks.
Its a great message that applies to many situations: "Love does no harm"
Love between any two human beings does no harm.
When you deeply care for another person despite age, race, gender how could that possibily be mistaken for sin?
On top of that, why would one person or group of people go to great lengths to criticize and bully those whose idea of love does not match their own.
Love does no harm.
Hate on the other hand ...
You say, when you deeply care for another person regardless of race, sex, religion, etc how could that be mistaken for sin? Again, when you encourage what is clearly sin, when you live a lifestyle that is clearly sin, are you deeply caring for that person? You can claim it, but are doing it? If you deeply cared for someone would you encourage them to drive off a cliff? And would you demand that those trying to keep them from driving off the cliff to shut up about it? That's what you are doing.
//On top of that, why would one person or group of people go to great lengths to criticize and bully those whose idea of love does not match their own.//
Good question to ask yourself. Who is the one doing the criticizing here? Not Michael. Not me. Whose doing the bullying? I'm simply asking you to demonstrate you understand what you are talking about. You are the one telling us we are wrong when the OP has absolutely nothing to do with any of your posts. It has to do with bullying, not the homosexual agenda. You are doing the exact opposite of what you want us to do to you.
What exactly has been said that is hateful?
As I said I picked up on the main subject title "Love does no harm"
I realize the subject matter has little no bearing on OPs article but the tittle can have very broad meaning.
Where is the sin in loving another person?
Where is the harm in loving another person?
And exactly how to you compare love between 2 people 'driving off a cliff'?
What you are describing, Anonymous, is not love, but lust. Lust is sin. Love is not. If you truly love someone of the same gender, it will NOT be sexually driven. As I said, the Bible is very clear on what is sin and what isn't. It is very clear of what love is and what it isn't. It is very clear how these things are to play a role. If you don't like what it clearly says, that is your problem. You are putting an asterisk on the Bible when you try to define things that culture says when the Bible clearly says otherwise. The Bible is the standard, not modern culture.
Where is the harm? Let's look at world history. EVERY society that has embraced homosexuality openly has been destroyed. Not one has survived. America is walking the path of Rome. What happened shortly before Rome fell. Open embracing of homosexuality. Sodom and Gomorrah was not a myth. That was historical fact. You want to embrace behavior that destroys lives, you will get it. I'm sorry you don't like the Bible, but it is the only source that contains the truth. There is no one beneficial thing to homosexuality. There is nothing neutral about homosexuality. Only a brief spell of pleasure...pleasure that never satisfied. You will have a hard time finding a homosexual couple that stays together for the bulk of their lives. They are rare. That's not love. That's lust.
Love and acceptance are not the same thing. If you're a parent, I'm sure you can relate to that. If your child determines to do something you know is wrong or you believe is not wise, you still love your child. You don't necessarily support their decision. Love, in fact, means you will tell them or warn them that their decision may be a bad one--it may be destructive. If you don't care about them at all, you'll let them walk down the road to destruction without a word and just shrug your shoulders. Love isn't acceptance. Love isn't turning a blind eye. I'm curious why every discussion concerning Christianity and especially Christian love or morals has to be a discussion about homosexuality. It's without fail, really. Love. Love people. Can you love someone while disagreeing with them on a topic? Of course. It's crazy to suggest otherwise. How about we talk about the blog.
I think sometimes we assume that we understand the love of God which in reality we can fathom the amazing love of God. I get tired of hearing the hate in some of the responses I read. Sometimes I feel the hate on both sides of the conversation which doesn't do any good for anyone. I do wonder sometimes why things get twisted and in the end we talk about homosexuality? It seems that the gay community has an agenda and everyone has to agree with it. I'm not a fan of this behavior at all. At least respect me for my opinion and belief.
We can't fathom the love of God
It's true, Mike, we can't really fathom it. But one thing I do know about the love of God. He loves us so much that he sent his Son to die on the Cross for us, so that we can be made into his image. God will take us as we are, but he will not leave us as we are. God loves us so much he will not let us stay in our sins, unless we choose to and reject him.
I agree Charlie, and I'm thankful for such love in my life as well. I also know that with this love we also have to understand because He loves us, He teaches us right from wrong. The commandments and laws that God has put in place is a demonstration of His love for us. Therefore, if we love God then we will obey His commandments no matter what the world wants us to do and believe.
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