Not to Condemn, but to Save

 I think we, as Christians, have a very important mission to fulfill in this world. It is not an easy mission to accomplish, but it is very possible with God's help. We are to navigate through our lives in such a way that we speak the truth in love without being condemning to those who are in sin. That takes great wisdom and discernment to allow the Spirit to give us what to say and do. If we fail, it turns people from the Lord. If we succeed, people are drawn to Jesus.

We have this mission because that was the mission of Jesus when He came into this world, and we are to live and love like Jesus. The Bible is clear about God's purpose in sending Jesus. (John 3:17) "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." Now, Jesus has sent us, as His disciples, into the world to do exactly the same thing. I wonder how we are doing in this mission?

I am afraid that many Christians are more known for what they are against than what they are for. They speak up loudly to condemn sinners and the sins around them, but they have very little sympathy for those who don't know Jesus. That gives the people of this world the wrong impression of God and Christians. It makes non-believers afraid to go to church or get to know Christians. That makes it very hard for us to lead them to Jesus so they can be saved as God wants.

 We don't need to compromise our beliefs or God's truth in this process. We don't need to go soft on sin. However, we can exude our love for people when we have to talk about sin. We can show them that God is merciful, and He will forgive their sins, if they will turn to Him in repentance. We can assure them that is what Jesus is all about, and that is what we are trying to do, as well. Then, there is a much better chance to see people come to salvation.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read John 5-9.