Tim Tebow: "I'm a Christian." Media: "Keep it
to yourself." Jason Collins: "I'm gay." Media: "Aawwww,
what a hero!"...
Now listen up, what you do in bed is not for broadcasting to the world.
Homo, hetero, or your garden hoe. It is private information for only you, your
family and close peers. That is not a headline story, ESPN. At best, maybe a
line in the NBA notes section.
And what do you think we are anyway? Sodom and Gomorrah? Oh
wait.... Well, God will NOT be mocked. Justice will be measured out. Why
foolishly invite more?
All that said, hurling insults at Madame...., I mean, Mister
Collins is no way to expose and set him free from the lies he is believing.
See? With that joke-- funny or not-- I probably entrench him from my
influences. Rather, I must use self-control and love him with the love of
Jesus. As uncomfortable and illogical as that may be, God is greater. His Love
wins.
Mind you, this is not synonymous with tolerance. God's grace
is not that we can conttinue to do anything we want, but that we did nothing to
earn His Love in Christ Jesus. He truly gave freely. Homosexuality is a sin.
There's no denying it. God's love is not accepting the action of sin, but
pursuing the person apart from it-- and doing so with patience, kindness,
without envy, without boasting, no prides. not rude, not self-seeking, not
easily angered, not keeping record of wrongs, no delight in evil, rejoicing
with the truth, always protecting, always trusting, always hoping, always
persevering. (1 Cor. 13)
In loving others, it's all about relationship and how you
treat people. First, the stronger your relationship with God is, the more you
have opened up, surrendered, and let Him into all the rooms of your heart,
mind, and life. As you do that, your identity becomes Christ. "...It is no
longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" (Gal 2:20). The stronger
your connection with God, the smoother Holy Spirit, God's love and power will
flow in, around, and through you. Your relationship with God is what allows Him
to reach you.
Likewise, your relationship with someone is what allows you
to reach them. Who do people sooner listen to and heed: someone who insults and
shuns them or someone who doesn't? Definitely someone who doesn't-- and more so
as the relationship complicates positively. In a relationship, sometimes it
only takes a few minutes to have a relationship adequete enough for a small
matter. More often, however, it takes time-- days, months, years-- for a matter
of greater weight.
If you then reach someone with the true spirit of the Lord,
you will move them by God's love and power through you. Where the Spirit of the
Lord is, there is freedom. Yes, freedom from lies, bondages, depression, guilt,
addiction, hatred, sickness, unforgiveness, darkness, and more!
That is what folks like Mr. Collins need. The Spirit of God
and His love and power. And the freedom He brings. In this case, freedom from
homosexuality as far as we know.
So spend time seeking God and building that strong
connection to and flow of His Spirit. And treat others with His love no matter
what. Your identity is then not only Christ but you know there's always someone
out there who needs freedom. Jesus went to the Father so He could give us His
Spirit.
The Spirit of God. That's how you win, kids. Now go get 'em.
