The Endless Circle

In Christianity today there seems to be an endless circle. A circle that starts with this question, WHO ARE WE? Christ said they will know you by your love for one another. Paul says we are the righteousness of God. Jesus was called both a gluten and a drunkard, the Pharisees thought He was clearly a sinner and false prophet. The only thing I know of that Christ promised His followers was that although His yoke was easy and burden light, we would have to give up everything to follow Him. In the end of the debate I think we are left with this:

1Corinthians 1

19For it is written,
“I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE,
AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE.”

20Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

One of the things I see throughout the New Testament is Love. Especially with Christ, Love one another, for the greatest commandment is this, love God, and the second is like unto it love your neighbor as yourself, and a new commandment I give you Love one another as I have Loved you. He never addressed sin with sinners. He only addressed sin with the highly religious. In the story of the adulterous women He showed her nothing but grace and love, I do not condemn you go and sin no more. He showed is love for Zaccheus causing him in turn to show love to the people he cheated. After Peter denied Jesus, Jesus never mentioned it again, all he asked about was Peter's love.

Later Paul talks about confronting one another, not allowing sin to be part of our assembly. I believe that Paul already understood that we were following Christ's commandment to love one another. Unfortunately, I didn't find love in the Church only condemnation, I heard a lot of "What you are doing is wrong." However there is therefore no condemnation in for those who are in Christ Jesus. Iron is supposed to sharpen iron we are supposed to confront each other, with the understanding that each of us is supposed to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Love is supposed to be our number one priority, but people love power, they love to be right, they love to be able to walk out of a place smugly patting themselves on the back saying, "Thank God, I'm not like that sinner."

If we cannot capture the hearts of the people with our Love then we will never be able to change their actions, ever. They will hate us, they will throw their actions in our faces, and they will attempt to corrupt our children. I know this because I felt like doing it when I was kicked out of the church for my parents actions. Then Christ asked if I would accept His love even though His people had failed miserably at showing it to me. I gave it a shot and was knocked off my feet by it. I know the balance between showing love and confronting people is a thin line to walk on. I have chosen to err on the side of loving people, and so far I've been amazed at the reaction.

I do not think we are sinners, I think we are son's of the Most High, heirs of the Kingdom of God. Grace and love haven't changed God's perspective of us it has changed who we are. We are perfect. We are free. We still sin. We live in a fallen world. I don't know how it works, but Christ says it works, and I believe Him. Love with abandon, people are more likely to die for love than they are to die for law.