Well to answer these questions, I had to make sure I knew what love was. Of course as a Christian, the only place that could answer what love was is the Bible since this is the Word of God and is the authority of my life. I performed a search on the word "love" (in any form) in the Old and New Testament and in the King James Bible 637 matches came up which was comprised of 541 verses. After feeling overwhelmed by the results, a scripture came to my mind, "God is love". I was then directed to first John 4:8 which states, "He that loveth not knowth not God; for God is love." Well this didn't make me feel much better since I was being told that I didn't love people since I wasn't celebrating the ruling by the Supreme Court. So then I I thought, well perhaps I really don't know God then because I don't love the fact that same sex marriage was being celebrated. I then thought about loving my neighbor so I was directed to Matthew 22:39 which states, "And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." After seeing this, I still didn't feel satisfied since I didn't love the fact that people were taking part in and supporting same sex marriage. I was still feeling heart broken.
I then was directed to first Corinthians chapter 13. Anyone who has been to any weddings at all will certainly be familiar with this passage of scripture. And so I thought, well everyone is celebrating "marriage", why don't I go read the scripture that is quoted at so many wedding ceremonies. For convenience, I am going to post it below. Please note, the word "charity" in the King James Version is the same as "love" when examining the original Greek word "agape" which means brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence and love feasts.
1Co 13:1-13 -
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
After reading this scripture passage I finally had my answer as to why my heart was breaking. It wasn't because I didn't want others to be happy in their lives or have their desires met. It wasn't because I was old fashioned or that I didn't know what love was. It wasn't even because I hated anyone (as some people insinuated that I did and for the record I do not hate anyone but rather love all people unconditionally). The answer was in verses five and six of this chapter which states, "...Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;..."
You see, the love of God (as first Corinthians chapter 13 describes) is perfect and pure. The Bible tells us that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:35). Nothing! "Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39). We are even further told in Romans 5:8 that "God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Why is this? Well, simply because "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
Because God's love is perfect and pure, there has to be a limit. I can hear it now. "What? How can God have a limit on His love? The Bible says nothing can separate us from the love of God." There is truth to this since I quoted it above. There isn't anything that can separate God's love for all people, however there still is a limit on his love and it is found in first Corinthians chapter 13 versus five and six. The limit is not so much as to who He loves since we can rest assured He loves every person.The limit rather is what He loves. Versus five and six state that God's love does not think evil and does not rejoice in iniquity (sin). And this is the answer to why I could not (and still do not) celebrate or rejoice over the ruling about same-sex marriage. Since I do have the love of God within me, His Holy Spirit teaches me to be like him. In being like Him, the Lord sanctifies me to live a Holy life to honor and glorify the Father in Heaven. In living a Holy life, one must not sin or wish sin God speed (e.g., condone). Therefore, the reason my heart was breaking for those who were participating and supporting same-sex marriage was because of God's love in my heart for every soul.
You see, just as God's love is described, I could not think evil or rejoice in iniquity. I can only rejoice in the truth. And the truth is Jesus Christ for He said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Therefore, if Jesus is the truth, then everything about Him is the truth, to include everything He does and says. With respect to marriage, Jesus confirmed what an acceptable marriage is in Matthew 19:4-6 which states, "Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." Jesus confirmed that a marriage is between one man and one woman and He further stated what God has joined together, let no man separate. This separation includes divorce or any "going away" from husband or wife. Since same-sex marriage would be "going away" from husband and wife as the Bible defines it (e.g., male and female), then same-sex marriage cannot be something God designed or has put together at the beginning. God has also stated that any form of sexual immorality (e.g. premarital sex, prostitution, adultery, homosexuality, etc.) is a sin and those that do such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God (first Corinthians 6:9; Galatians 5:19-21).
With this, my heart continues to break. I love every person and the soul God has granted them. I love to see people happy. I love to rejoice when it is time to rejoice. However when it comes to sin (which is many things to include homosexuality), I cannot rejoice. Not because I hate (as some would try to argue), but rather because I LOVE! The last thing I would want is for anyone to be hurt and that is why I LOVE. It breaks my heart to think that anyone will not inherit the Kingdom of God. I desire for everyone to go to Heaven, although I realize not everyone will. Still my heart yearns for people to see the truth. My heart is filled with so much love I am willing to share that truth since it is truly a matter of spiritual life or death. However, due to deception and lies from Satan (he is the father of lies by the way - John 8:44), people mistaken love for hate when some do not agree with same-sex marriage (or other sins in ones life for that matter). Sadly people claim, "Oh you don't love others" or "Why can't others just love?" and mistaken my intent. I more than ever want others to love each other and I certainly love them, however the only love that will carry from this life to the next is the love of God and the love of God does not think evil or rejoice in iniquity but rather it only rejoices in the truth. And therefore because people are not receiving the truth, my heart breaks. My intent is for them to see the truth. If they do not see the truth then the following will happen according to second Thessalonians 2:8-12:
And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
This is taking place right now. Not just with same-sex marriage but any and all sin. People have received a strong delusion because they have not accepted the truth but rather a lie. The sad part that breaks my heart out of love for those in this situation is that they will be "damned" since they don't believe the truth and take pleasure in unrighteousness (which is the same as iniquity per the original Greek word "adikia"). People will say, "How can you say this? You are so judgmental and the Bible says do not judge." This is also a lie from the devil. People take scripture out of context. The Bible does say in Matthew 7:1 "Judge not, that ye be not judged." However if people would read on in the chapter they would quickly realize Jesus is talking about hypocritical judgement. Jesus refers to taking the beam out of your eye before you take the mote of your brother's eye. Notice Jesus didn't say not to take the mote out of your brother's eye but rather to take the beam out of yours first then take the mote out of your brother's. This means before you can help someone else see the truth, you must first see the truth and save your own life through repentance. Then you can help someone else see the truth. Jesus commanded Christians to "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." So for people to say to Christians not to judge, they are mistaken and ultimately not accepting the truth. There is a right way and a wrong way to judge the sin within ourselves and others and the purpose of judging (or determining right from wrong) is so that people would be saved. Some people may think, "I don't need to be saved or see the truth." They are like Pilate when he asked Jesus, "What is truth" (John 18:38). This thought process is a deception from the devil. It is a lie and is contrary to what the Bible says. I Timothy 2:4 states that God, "...will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."
One last verse that many people leave out when they claim I don't "love my neighbor" is Matthew 22:37 which Jesus states, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment." This verse occurs directly before Jesus tells us to love our neighbors. Therefore, the priority of love in my heart is and will always be toward God first. This means that my heart will love and rejoice for what He loves and rejoices for. Again when it comes to any sin, I cannot love this or rejoice in this or even think on this since that would not be Godly. I can only pray that one day, people will see the truth in Jesus Christ, since that is what God rejoices in. Jesus Christ is the only One that will set them free from the sin that so easily besets them just as He did for me many years ago! And the love of God through His Son Jesus Christ is the only love that wins in this world and in the world to come!
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