What Happens When They Come For You?

What happens when the church or society decides that something in your life is now a “particularly evil sin?” What happens when they come for you?

We have been evangelicals for 24 years — last weekend we visited an open and affirming church in Austin. I was struck by the immediate kindness, compassion and intimacy we experienced from everyone. Fellow worshipers, pastors, staff were genuine and real and honest. From their hearts flowed overwhelming peace.

How different this was from what we have experienced in most of the Evangelical church.

Here’s what I suspect. If you have judgment in your heart towards particular sins or particular groups of people, then you live with constant, underlying fear of what might happen if that same level of judgment is turned toward you, your beliefs, your issues.

What happens when the church or society decides that something in your life is now a “particularly evil sin?” What happens when they come for you?

This debilitating fear robs you of your intimacy and your peace. It requires a defensive shield to hide your heart and your secrets. To be honest, it makes you a pretender.

Is this how Jesus wants us to live? Is this our life-giving community of fellow Believers? Is this the freedom for which Jesus died? I don’t think so. Not when He went out of His way to break the law of sin and death. That does not mean freeing us from specific sin (though He does that) but freeing us from the system where our sins are charged against us.

Please know… I don’t write this to condemn anybody in the Evangelical church. I am not angry. I am sad. I write this with hope of touching your heart and your spirit with the truth that something more is available to you. There is indeed a peace that passes understanding. There is deep freedom for your heart. There is a pure glorious joy in being loved for who you are and simply loving others the same way.

In truth, we only love as much as we believe we have been loved. When you believe that love is limited or based on your actions, you can’t help giving the same insufficient, conditional love to those around you.

So I invite you know and believe that you are loved by God for exactly who and what you are. And that all Jesus called us to do was to love Him and love others as He has loved us. Then I invite you to take a step of faith and love others unconditionally.

You will discover joy, peace, freedom and intimacy that you never thought possible.

Click here to read “When Do You Learn God’s Grace”

Click here to read “So This Is How Rejection Feels”