What part of "Love" don't you understand?

A few years back I was on a mountain biking/snowboarding trip and while driving through a little town in the middle of nowhere in Colorado, I saw a sign in front of the only church in this tiny town. In big bold letters it read, "What part of "Thou Shalt Not" don't you understand?" My initial reaction was one of surprise, but it quickly turned to disgust. How could someone have the audacity to put a sign like that in front of a church?

Over the last few years I have returned to that church in my mind numerous times; and the more I think about it, the more it breaks my heart.

Now, in fairness to the pastor of that little church, I am going to withhold aiming my frustration at him and am therefore removing him from the crosshairs of my rant. I don't know the background of that little church. I don't know how many attempts at witnessing and evangelizing to the townspeople had failed. For all I know this was the only way he felt like he could get through to the people in his town. But to me, this symbolizes the larger state of affairs in the Church as a whole in this country today.

For some reason the Church has gotten to a point of righteous indignation where we have become self-proclaimed enforcers of biblical morality in a world that doesn't answer to the same Authority that we do.

I once heard a comedian say, "'Vengeance is mine', sayeth the Lord and I just want to be about the Lord's business!"

It's a funny comment, and I have taken it out of the context the comedian used but I feel as if it is a perfect example of how the Church feels, if not acts, these days. We read in the Bible about God's wrath and judgment, condemnation and damnation and somehow we interpret that as some sort of holy commissioning and a confirmation of the purpose of our existence from God himself.

But I would venture to say the exact opposite is true. In the Bible (specifically Romans chapter 2), the Apostle Paul says

Those people are on a dark spiral downward. But if you think that leaves you on the high ground where you can point your finger at others, think again. Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors. But God isn't so easily diverted. He sees right through all such smoke screens and holds you to what you've done.

If you read further, it goes on to talk about God and how he will judge everyone. To me, that pretty much means the job of judging is up to God, not us. Do you know what our job is?

People often times look at the Bible as a list of do's and don'ts and they get bogged down in the immensity of it all. "Its too much to think about", they feel. "How can I remember all of that?" they ask.

I've got some good news for you. Get this: it's really a lot easier than you think. In fact, Jesus himself said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Did you catch that? All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. One more time, ALL THE LAW HANGS ON THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS! Look it up yourself, there is nothing about judging. Nothing about being the moral police. Nothing about petitioning and rallying against gay marriage. Nothing about abortion, or creation nothing about republicans or democrats. I know it sounds really tree-huggerish and hippy-esque, but it all comes down to love.

Think about it for a minute and let it fully sink in. All you need to do is love God and love others. Nothing more, nothing less. If you do that consistently, 100f the time then you will also be following every other command that God has given us. Try it. Look in the Old Testament where we find what's referred to as The Law. Look at every command that is given (start with the 10 Commandments in Exodus chapter 20, if its easiest) and read it with the question "If I am loving God and others with all of my being, then is it possible to break this command?" You'll find it is impossible.

Now think about how the Church as a whole acts most of the time. Is it with love? Is it free of judgment? I would venture to bet that it is not. Now look at those who don't know God and aren't in a saving relationship with Him. Isn't it also our job to share the good news with them? After all, it is good news isn't it? I mean, if you held the cure for cancer or AIDS wouldn't you feel a moral obligation to share it with the rest of the world? We have the cure for sin, which everyone on this earth is dying from, and we have the same obligation to share that with everyone who doesn't know it. Our main purpose in this life should be guiding people TOWARDS the Truth, not scaring them away from it. But how can we share with those we've alienated because of our judgment? They will never be open to anything we have to say if the first thing we say is to point out where they are wrong and what they need to do to change. I once heard the statement, "You don't need to get cleaned up to take a bath." People need to come to Him just as they are, and we need to lead them.

It's not our job to judge, its not our job to condemn, its not our job to point out what sins and lifestyle changes the person needs to make. Our job is to love, and lead that person to the only source of water that will clean them up. What happens next is not up to us; it is not in our job description.

All we need to do is love. Period.