1 Peter 4:8 (New International Version)
8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Jesus didn’t come for those who are well. He came for those in need of a physician. He didn’t come for the righteous. He came for the sinners. He loved the lepers. He loved the prostitute. He loved the Christian persecutor. He loved the foolish and the blind.
Oh how my heart weeps when I see self-righteousness in Christians. My friends, I see it……A LOT. Hmmmmm….where to start? Oh yeah……that kid that smokes? Guess what? He actually loves God but if you knew the life he’s lived, you wouldn’t judge. That mom whose son committed suicide? The rumors really aren’t true. And you don’t know the full story. That boy that has a hate campaign against a teacher? He is crying out for love. Can’t you see? He’s hungry for it. It’s a cry for help. That kid on drugs? You have no idea what sort of things he’s seen in his lifetime. That mother? She’s been a victim of domestic abuse and has kept silent about it. How about that transvestite? It might make you feel good to laugh and tease. But do you really know how much guts it took for her/him to be authentic?
My friends………DO NOT JUDGE. Please. You have no idea. That man that drinks. Do you know his story? That woman….do you know why she is sad?
Often times, sin is a result of a broken heart. Sin is often used to try to mend a broken heart. The root of the matter is the brokenness……if we could just learn to address that first……we’d be much better off. Heal the brokenness, heal the sinner.
People often don’t understand how I can associate and actually love “sinners”. Do I love the sin? No. But do I love the person? Yes. Do I see the brokenness? Yes.
My friend, I hate to say this. But if you reject people because of their so-called, “sin” then I question your love. You see, God hasn’t ever been intimidated by sin. His mission was to love. And love covers a multitude of sin.