Returning Love for Judgment

Do not judge, or you also will be judged.  - Jesus

I hurt for many of my brothers and sisters in Christ right now.  The heat and duration of the marriage rights debate along with the amplified religious diatribe have created a genuine perception of crisis for many conservative believers.  Some of them are confused and heartbroken.  Still others are concerned and afraid.  For those who support the High Court’s ruling on marriage, I would remind you that Jesus’ command not to judge falls now on you.

Many who are now celebrating have borne a great deal of pain over the years.  Some who have experienced the worst hurt may now feel justified in returning judgment for judgment.  I believe they are tragically mistaken.  Wrong doesn’t magically become right when you achieve the legal upper hand.  For any who follow the Way of Christ, his command remains now what it has always been:  “love one another.”  You may not always have received love, but you are called to give love.  You may not always have received grace, but God has still called you to be a vessel for grace.

I can’t say this will be easy.  Following in Jesus’ footsteps rarely is.  His followers are called to love, called to be peacemakers.  Dare I even say it... we are called to reconciled to one another.  It may take time, but we must all move in that direction if we hope to truly participate in the redeeming work of Christ.  I know this will take time, but I believe that the love of Christ is strong enough to overcome any obstacles, even our own selves.  The discussion isn’t over and I pray for those on both sides to continue working toward some middle ground, founded on mutual love, respect and grace.  If we cannot yet walk together, let us walk in the same direction.

To any person on either side who can only see through eyes of hatred or malice, I cannot judge you except to say that we walk opposing roads, you to your god and I to mine.  However, we may never be closer to each other than we are now, so forgive my presumption in this moment to make an observation.  When I look down this road to the horizon, I see the sun rising full and hopeful on the horizon.  At the end of your road, on the other hand, I can see only darkness.