love

Kaylee and Kenzi show some love.

A recent survey by the Barna Group sought to discover whether Christians today are more like Jesus or more like the Pharisees. I think the account in John 8 of the woman caught in adultery shows the distinction between Jesus and the Pharisees quite well.

The Pharisees judged the woman for her sin, shamed her by pointing out her adultery to the crowd, and condemned her to be stoned. They were also hoping to prove that Jesus didn't know the "rules" of how to be a good Christian.

Jesus told them to go ahead and stone her -- and let the person who has never sinned throw the first stone. Because none of them were without sin, they all walked away. Jesus told the woman she was free to go as well, requesting that she "sin no more." He didn't judge her, shame her, or condemn her. He loved her and set her free, knowing that God's love and forgiveness is what makes us want to "sin no more," not rules and judgments. Neither did He judge, shame, or condemn the Pharisees. He was perfectly consistent in His love.

So what did the Barna Group find? Out of over 700 self-professing Christians who were surveyed, 51 percent were determined to be like the Pharisees in both their attitudes and actions. And only 14 percent were determined to be Christ-like in both attitudes and actions.

That means that any time you or anyone else encounters a Christian, you have a much better chance of being judged, shamed, or condemned than you do of being loved. No wonder Christians have such a bad rap.

I don't proclaim to be perfectly Christ-like in my attitudes and actions all the time, but I'm trying to be less judgmental, less rule-oriented, and less exclusive. In turn I'm trying to be more forgiving, more love-oriented, and more inclusive. Hopefully those people who are turned off by the mere word "Christian" or who have had negative experiences with (me or other) Pharisees in the past, will see that even though I will continue to fall short of loving them perfectly -- as only God can -- I really am trying. I really do want to love, not judge. I really do want to see God in each person, and hopefully each person will see God in me.

EMBRACE LOVE.

Love is all you need.


Enjoying Dr. David Jeremiah's new book, God Loves You: He Always Has -- He Always Will.