Love One Another

Though I have been in and out of ministry, I have struggled throughout my life with my faith in God and the institution of the Christian church. Much of the struggle is due to what I have witnessed in the church.

During my time in ministry, I have seen people turned away from churches where I served because they didn’t live by certain standards. I have always felt that these churches were missing something.

I love that Jesus never demanded perfection or expected people to reach a certain standard first and then follow. Instead, Jesus met people right where they were. He still does. Jesus loves and accepts us for who we are, offering us forgiveness even when we don’t ask for it.

On the cross, Jesus showed the extent of his love by forgiving the criminal hanging next to him, who asked only for Jesus to remember him. The criminal didn’t ask for forgiveness; he said he deserved his punishment. But Jesus gave him the unexpected gifts of grace, mercy, and forgiveness. (See Lk. 23:39-43.) Christ doesn’t expect us to be perfect. But if we want to follow him, he expects us to love others — just as he loves us.