I would like to openly apologize to anyone who has ever been misguided, mistreated or abused by someone claiming to be a Christian. Christianity is not about hatred. It is not about condemnation.

Christianity is about showing the love of Jesus Christ. The very same love Jesus had shown when he healed the leper. The same love he showed when he caused the blind man to see. Jesus’ love surpasses our understanding.

It’s true. While in prison, Paul wrote to those in Ephesus praying they would, “know the love of Christ which passes knowledge…” Ephesians 3:19. Paul knew God’s love can never be equated or understood, but trying to understand his love could help us love deeper.

God teaches us to love one another, regardless of what they do nor how they live. We all can choose to live a certain way — glutinous, lustful, envious or even prideful, among many other sins.

Sin is sin and there is no way we can move away from it because we all fall short and sin on a daily basis (Romans 3:23). Of course, the wages of sin is death, but as a Christian, we should never condemn another person for how they live. We should, however, explain to them what sin is, but not condemn them. Jesus tells us to not condemn another person for how they live, however we should forgive them (Luke 6:37).

But, Jesus commands us to love one another, just as he loved us. “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35).

We don’t merely show our love through what we say. I can tell my parents I love them, but there is no proof to words. Talk is cheap (Ecclesiastes 5:7).

As a member of God’s family, John wrote in 1 John for “us to not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18).

If I say I love someone, I’m going to show them by doing something for them — whether I give them a gift of some sort, or clean the dishes because they’ve piled up.

Love is showing patience with someone who can’t choose where to eat lunch. Love is opening the door for someone you have never met. Love doesn’t envy nor boast. It doesn’t dishonor others, it isn’t self-seeking, not easily angered, doesn’t hold grudges (1 Corinthians 13:4-5).

Love is the glue holding everything together. While in prison, Paul wrote to the Colossians saying, “Above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.” Love binds everything together in perfect unity.

Sadly, there are many people in the world who claim to know who God is. However, people’s actions determine the truth. Whoever shows the love of God are born of God and knows God, but whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:7-8).

For those who say they know God and show the love of God should continuously obey him. Jesus says we should love each other just like he loves us (John 15:12). He loved us so much so he gave his life for us. He could have easily decided, “No thanks, I’m going to go fly a kite instead.”

I say these things because I saw many people who claim to be a Christian act otherwise. God gave his son for everyone. John 3:16 — a profoundly quoted verse throughout all of Christendom — says, “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten so, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Christ gave his own life while we were all still sinners (Romans 5:8).

I can’t imagine losing my own brother, mother or father, much less a child I don’t yet have. Jesus said there is no love greater than laying one’s own life for another friend (John 15: 13). Imagine having a friend you have so much love for, you would do anything to keep them from being killed. That’s exactly what God did.

We should love everyone, regardless of how they live or what they do. We should “let all that we do, be done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14).

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First published through The Paris News on March 26, 2018. The article can be found on their website here. This story was also back dated to its originally published date.