Love trumps fairness

And covers a multitude of sins. Even, or perhaps especially, homosexuality. And hatred.

I had determined yesterday to write about the unfairness of pro-gay lobbies labeling pro-family organizations as hate groups, when their own speech and actions more closely conform to such a description. But, as my Father God is so fond of doing, He brought me up short with a reminder that, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” (1  Cor. 13:1) He reminded me through His Word and through His people, and even through the nineteenth-century poet and playwright Oscar Wilde.

In perusing William Bennett’s The Book of Virtues to select a reading for my son (who was still blissfully asleep at 8:30 am – one of the many perks of homeschooling), I came upon a children’s story by Wilde called The Selfish Giant. And was very surprised to find in it a character who is obviously representative of Jesus Christ, portrayed in the role of loving Savior. Surprised because, though I could not recall many facts about Oscar Wilde, I was pretty sure he was well-known for his flamboyant homosexuality. And I would not expect someone like that to write so tenderly about Jesus.

This prompted me to do a little research on the man, and I came away with a picture of someone who struggled with the claims of Christ, and with sin, his whole life. And I saw afresh the face of the sinner loved by the Savior. One that I see in the mirror every day, as do you.

This softened my heart again to the plight of the homosexual who feels the sting of rejection because of his affections, declared by many to be unnatural and immoral, but which feel so right to him. Then, last evening, the primacy of love was driven home in a spirited discussion amongst my lady friends and I at our weekly Bible study. And I saw that what I needed to do was not demand fairness but extend the love of Christ instead.

This is hard to do when you’re being accused unfairly. It’s hard to do when you’re labeled – pardon me, but I think it’s necessary to quote verbatim – “an asshole” because you believe the God who created human beings has the right to determine what is sin. But as a Christian, I am to imitate Christ and He “opened not His mouth” (Isaiah 53:7) and prayed forgiveness for his murderers.

It would be much easier if so many of the pro-gay comments weren’t of the in-your-face, you’re-an-idiot variety. But, if Jesus endured the taunts and spittle of those He came to save, without wavering in His sacrificial act of love, so should I.

And so should everyone who belongs to Him and claims to follow Him. Can you imagine the transformation in tone and receptivity to truth if our behavior and attitude were marked by love instead of indignation? If we refused to fire back angry retorts at those who are angry with us? Yes, we need to speak the truth, but always in love. It is what we are called to.

Oh, how I need to be reminded of this every day.