“God never commanded us to reject people because they are not living up to a certain spiritual standard.”

A thought by Jentezen Franklin from his book, Love Like You've Never Been Hurt: Hope, Healing and the Power of an Open Heart (p. 28). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) 

But we do it don’t we?

Jentezen says, “If those we love are doing something that is wrong, often our judgment kicks into overdrive. Disapproval quickly trumps love. We refuse to have anything to do with those people. We announce to them and to the world that the relationship is over. And we do this in the name of faith, thumping our Bibles with self-righteous intolerance.”

But 1 Corinthians 13:1–2 in the Bible says, “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.”

Jentezen goes on, “We could have all the spiritual gifts in the world, but without love, they would be meaningless. We could quote Bible verses about condemnation until our throats are hoarse, but without love, it is meaningless. We could tell a loved one that what she is doing is wrong, but without love, our words are meaningless.”

He later says, “Here’s what I’ve learned.  Love doesn’t say: ‘You made your bed, now lie in it.’ ‘I didn’t raise you to do that, so I’m done with you.’ ‘You did what? You’re such a screwup!’

“Love says: ‘I will never agree with your lifestyle, but I still love you.’ ‘I will never aid or abet what you’re doing, but you are still and will always be mine.’ ‘There is nothing you can ever do that will make you not be mine, because I love you.’

He then says, “Love does not demand its own way. It never loses faith. It is always hopeful. It endures through every circumstance. It is never wrong to love. It is never out of order to love. You do not compromise your faith when you love. This is what it means to love like you’ve never been hurt.”

Jentezen says, “Billy Graham is often quoted to have said, ‘It is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict, God’s job to judge and my job to love.’ How many of us switch roles whenever it is convenient or when we are feeling super holy?

“Look, there is a time and place for telling the truth in love. Sometimes we must address issues that are not right. We need to admonish our children and those we are closest to when they are doing something that does not align with Scripture. But we must do it in a way that is sincere and grounded in love.”

I want love when I’ve blown it, don’t you?

Yes, yes!