The Bible isn't just about love...

I was asked yesterday by someone who follows my FB posts:

"How come you never post anything about the reality of sin?  If you're going to talk about Jesus, you have to present the whole truth of God, and that includes sin and the need for repentance.  It seems that all you talk about is the "loving" Jesus, not the judgment that He told us would happen."

I have to confess that I may be guilty of that (though I know that I have addressed issues dealing with sin before, just not a specific sin)... but I have long felt that I am called to preach, not against anything, but rather FOR God's loving invitation in everything to be saved from whatever threatens to drown us (and that list is large).  Repentance that results in a life that is transformed into something that is not a burden, but rather a buoy that others can grab hold of is ultimately, I think, a more effective witness than a host of lists of what others are doing wrong.

Most people already know the actions in our lives that are damaging, even if we're able to rationalize certain behaviors, or try to deny that they are damaging.  (Often, though not always, those who shout the loudest in opposition to others' judgment of their behaviors, are engaging in self- evaluation on some level even as they do so.  Or maybe to put it more scripturally, the Holy Spirit is wrestling with them.)  What some may not know though,  is that there is an alternative to the dissatisfaction and pain that always seems present in those destructive behaviors... that there is love available that is unconditional and unfailing and transformational.
So I try to share the whole truth of the Gospel... not just that we are sinners, but that forgiveness and healing are ours if we choose to accept them, no matter what we've done, or where we've been.  From there, its up to God.

For the record, I understand the reality of, and have never nor will ever deny, sin's existence.   I have fallen and still fall to its temptations (though hopefully less and less frequently) as I move toward God's perfection.  It is an ever present source of distraction for me.  It is NOT larger than God's presence in my life or yours though.  It cannot, for all of its loudness, drown out the call and promise of Grace.  Judgment WILL come just as scripture says, but what if the judgment of God is less about sinners' exclusion or destruction, and more about restoration of right relationship?  I seem to remember reading something about that in the Gospel of John's 3rd chapter. (v 17)

That doesn't mean that "anything goes", or that I believe in universalism... just that in the final analysis, only God judges.  We're called to engage in faith that leads to living using better judgment; and that includes in how we share our lived experience (testimony) of a loving Savior.

I also have to confess that I may have shortened the answer to my friend's question considerably by simply saying, "Try reading Philippians chapter 4."  (And it may do us all some good to get back to that text every now and again.)  But for now, my prayer is that we who repent, may be guided to live in the places and ways that God's love pours a richness into our lives, and those around us, for the purposes of redemption and renewal in Christ's name.  Amen.

Your servant in Christ,

Chris