What does love look like?

Do you have to compromise truth to really love the "unlovable"? Where does the concept of truth enter in?

We live in a society that is appalled when, as Christians, we dare to call certain lifestyles and activities sinful. And we live in a time when many Christians get angry, really angry, at people who give a hearing those living in less than desirable lifestyles. It seems to me that we are living in a world where truth and love are at odds with each other instead of working in harmony together as they do throughout the Bible.

I will admit that I have stood mostly in the second camp. I think it's mostly because of the way that our political parties have become polarized and discussed in the media. Both sides use the tone of fighting a war to make their points, and in war, you fight for one side or the other ... if you stand in the middle, you die (unless somehow you can embody the political genius of Switzerland!)

I know a guy, well, that is a homosexual. And anytime I spend time with him, I struggle with this issue. If he was on TV and I didn't know him, I would probably find myself using some less than godly language to express my opinion of his lifestyle. But I don't ... because I love him, and I am in relationship with him.

That is the odd thing about dealing with homosexuality, abortion, racism, etc. I have strong feelings and opinions, and I would argue, Biblical truth that shows us what is wrong about these issues. But when I am in relationships with people who are suffering from any of these issues—either by choice or whatever reason—it doesn't really matter, I don't tell them they are pathetic losers. I tend to see them instead with eyes of compassion ... like Jesus does. So it looks something like this for me: no relationship, no love, but all truth; if we have a relationship, it's love and empathy, with doses of truth as I feel that I have the opening to share.

It's like the political talking points these days have in some way robbed us of talking about love ... in order to be in the battle we must speak truth! Why should they be separate? The Bible says "God's word is truth", "God is love", and that we are to love in spirit and in truth—God doesn't see the need to separate the two concepts.

I read this great article today in Christianity Today online by Brandon O'Brien where he recounts his struggle to love a student that really annoyed him in the classroom. My blog is called "Image Bearer" taken from the Latin imago dei, and in his article, Brandon artfully discusses what that means and how his understanding of what an image bearer is helped him learn how to love this boy. It's worth the read for those of you who struggle with how to relate to the seemingly "unlovable."

Lastly, I just want to reflect a moment on God's love towards me. I love that verse in Romans 5:8 that states "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." As I continue to grapple with the complexities of sin and the rationalizations for it in our world today, I am mindful of the fact that, as Paul said, I am the worst of sinners. I don't deserve grace any more or any less than the people that I mentioned earlier. None of us do.

So do I think I have to compromise truth to really love people? No, I don't. Jesus never did that. I think it is easy to spout out the truth, but it is hard to really love people ... not impossible, but hard. As image bearers of God, we are to love as God loves ...