Defending the Sanctity of Marriage with Scandalous Love

I am greatly saddened when I look at the moral decline of our nation . . . not just because I am concerned about our children's future but because I see the pain and brokenness in the lives of so many lost people.  They are searching for love and acceptance and the last place they are finding it is in the church.  This shouldn't be!  Our churches aren't to be Country Clubs where like-minded people gather, they are to be havens for the hurting and hospitals to the wounded.  So many of us have missed the big picture and lost the perspective Jesus had for the outcast.  Remember what Jesus said, "It is not the healthy that need a doctor, but the sick.  But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice.  For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." 

Though I am deeply convicted about the importance of maintaining the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman, I am disturbed that things have somehow degenerated into an "us" against "them" mentality.  Many churches and Christians are quite vocal in their stance against gay marriage, but I find myself wondering where Jesus is in the midst of this battle.  

If Jesus were here today in human form, I don't think we'd find him on the picket lines defending holiness, I think we'd find him eating in the homes of the very people our churches are fighting against.  Jesus had this amazing ability to separate the value of a person from their sin.  In the midst of loving and ministering to people, he never compromised truth; it was simply His kindness that led to repentance.  Instead of judging them for their rebellion, he established relationship with them FIRST and then loved them to repentance.

According to Kris Vallotton in his book, The Supernatural Ways of Royalty, "We only have as much influence in the lives of others as they have value for us.  When we carry honor in our hearts for others, our value grows in their eyes and we gain a place of influence with them.  Judging and labeling groups of people usually promotes dishonor.  If others believe we don't really value them as people, they won't believe we love them and will hold our offer (of salvation) suspect." 

In Brennan Manning's book, "Souvenirs of Solitude," he points out something interesting about the passage in chapter 8 of John's gospel.  This was the story about the woman caught in adultery.  The pharisees and crowd dragged her before Jesus and asked what they should do with her.  The Law of Moses said she should be stoned but the Romans wouldn't let them stone people.  Jesus began to write in the sand and then said, "If anyone of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."  The people left one at a time until only Jesus was standing there with the woman.  He asked her, "Is there no one here to condemn you?"  She replied, "No one, Lord."  He answered, "Okay, go and sin no more."  

Manning expounds on this and says, "Get the picture.  Jesus didn't ask her if she was sorry.  He didn't demand a firm purpose of amendment.  He didn't seem too concerned that she might dash back into the arms of her lover.  She just stood there, and Jesus gave her absolution before she asked for it.  That particular passage was so scandalous in the early church that though it is certainly part of an ancient gospel tradition, it didn't get included in the gospel story for almost a hundred years.  The early Christian moralists had a much stricter idea of good and evil than Jesus did, so they tried to hush up this incident because it made Jesus look too lenient.  And that's the nature of God's love for us - a love that is positively scandalous, a love that's embarrassing."

I am not encouraging people to compromise truth or embrace falsehoods for the sake of keeping the peace (or being "politically correct") but we should not hold truth to such a high value that it outshines love and leads to a religious mindset.  If we can speak in tongues of angels, have the gift of prophecy and great knowledge, have faith that moves mountains, give all we possess to the poor, and die a martyrs death . . . but have not love, we gain nothing.  Yes that is right, we can even die for a cause and gain nothing.  Though we may be correct in our convictions, anything we do outside the motive of love is in vain.   

I think there is a way to love and accept the LGBT community while still standing true to the heart and Word of God.  We just need to remember that "Love covers a multitude of sins" and  "Mercy triumphs over judgment."   

As Brennan Manning says, "We must not permit cool cordiality and polite indifference to masquerade as God's love for His people."  

WHILE we were still sinners He died for us - let's shower this same scandalous love toward His people today.