#LoveWins

......actually, love already won. You see, God is Love. He loved so much that he sent his son, Jesus, to die for you on the cross 2,000 years ago. He died for the adulterer, the tax collector, the prostitute, the straight and the homosexual. He died for ALL sinners. LOVE ALREADY WON. Love was hated by many. Love was crucified. But guess what?! That’s not the end of the story. Love ALWAYS wins! Love won over sin. Love defeated the grave. And Love is risen again and preparing a home for you.

 

As I see the hashtag #LoveWins all over social media celebrating the legality of gay marriage, I can’t help but nod in affirmation. Not in affirmation or approval of the court ruling, but that, YES, love wins. Love wins over everything in the end.

 

Christianity has been misconstrued for years to the point where society thinks Christians are a bunch of hateful, closed-minded bigots. That’s far from true! Christianity began out of love. Love for the sinner, love for the lost, love for the hopeless. We are called to love like Jesus did. This doesn’t mean we condone sins. We are ALL sinners, but we don’t hate each other because of it. We love people through it.

 

In the coming days as society pressures Christians to push our beliefs aside and accept gay marriage as the new norm, we must stand up for our faith. We can no longer stand idly by as our government tells us what to believe and accept. The church has been known to thrive in times of persecution (see: Ephesus, Philippi, Corinth and Rome). The persecution will more than likely come as pastors will refuse to officiate gay marriages for the sake of their own religious beliefs. In fact, I’ve already seen some persecution from behind computer screens directed to a pastor at Watermark Community Church in Dallas. Even in this time, Christians should be unashamed of their faith and boldly proclaim the gospel. We need to proclaim this gospel while also speaking grace and kindness. Do not be tempted to anger and to lash out against people who hate your beliefs. They don’t hate you; they hate what you believe. They hate Love.

 

What many who support this new court ruling believe is that your desires don’t have consequences (1 Corinthians 10:23). We are called to obey God, rather than man (Acts 5:29). When we don’t, there will be discipline, much like from a loving earthly father. The Bible says the world will fall to its own desires and God will give us over to ourselves (Romans1:24-32). Just like an earthly father who shakes his head after trying to lead us in the right direction, God will do the same as we give in to our sinful nature. We cannot expect God to bless us as a nation if we turn our cheek to Him. Is America prepared for the discipline God could give?

 

In the end, this world can -and probably will- fall to its own desires of the flesh and hate, but I know that love will STILL win in the end. I’ve read the last chapter and the last page of the Bible. #LoveWins!