no buts.

If you ask a lot of Christians today what God thinks about people in the LGBT+ community, you may get a similar answer:

Yes, God loves them and they’re made in His image and they’re all welcome in church……but…

Then typically go on to talk about the precautions of what they just said. Like, Yes God loves them, but not their actions. As if that were the question. As if the answer is different for gay people vs. straight people.

If you asked someone what God thinks about Ethan, I would dread that ‘but.’

“Yes, God loves Ethan, but…”

Like, wtf?

I’ve heard that response so often (and even given it myself) that it’s no wonder those people are turned off from the church! Who wants to be loved and accepted conditionally?

“Yes, God loves you and you can worship with us as long as you suit up and behave…”

Isn’t that sort of antithetical to, like, the entire gospel we preach? That it’s not what we do that makes us acceptable to God? Of course, we always have separate conversations about our actions and beliefs. But I don’t hear the same sort of follow-up for straight people ever.

“Does God love straight people?”
“Yes, but as long as they don’t commit adultery.”

Never heard that answer once, lol.

It mainly seems like it’s people who are other from us about whom we respond in that way.

Gay people, as long as they don’t act on it.
Addicts, as long as they’re getting clean.
Muslims, as long as they come to believe in Jesus.
Same with Buddhists, Hindus, and of course, Catholics.

It’s a weird culture we’re in.

Look at Jesus. He hung out with prostitutes and sinners, but you don’t see Him jump up from the table and clarify to the Pharisees: “Hey guys, just FYI, I’m sitting with them, but I do not approve of their lifestyle. Just want you to know.” I doubt these outcasted people flocked to Jesus because he was stingy with God’s love.

“We love hanging out with Jesus because He’s always clarifying that God loves us but not our actions. He’s real clear about that, so we all love chilling with Him.”
— The Prostitutes

The moral teachings came at other times, but I doubt Jesus was always harping on that.

From now on, if someone asks us if God loves gay people, or any other type of people, let’s just say yes.

No buts.

e

Day 39 of 100 Days of Blog.

The post no buts. appeared first on ethan renoe.