On controversy...

Today I was reading through my Facebook timeline and came across a post by an old friend of mine. She was asking people who profess Christ as their Savior to weigh in on what they would do if their child came home and told them they were gay.

I usually avoid these types of conversations in general, because I find they are fruitless. They are distracting. I actually think they're a tool of the enemy to turn our focus to the minutia of life instead of the great commission.

Please hear me out on this. I am not giving an opinion, nor am I weighing in. I am simply asking you, dear reader, to consider that perhaps we are all missing the point. Perhaps the enemy has us distracted with this bickering over sin, and as a result we do not please God, nor do we serve Him. 

I am a Christian. I do believe in Jesus Christ, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit. I do believe that Jesus died for my sins, and that I am a sinner in need of grace and forgiveness that only His death could provide. I believe that He rose from the dead and resides in Heaven with God. I also believe that one day He will return to take His people home. 

As a believer, I have but one purpose on this earth. One. Not two, not three, not ten and not 100. I have one purpose.

My purpose is simply to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.

Maybe you're thinking, "wait, that leaves out loving others, or being obedient, or not sinning, or this or that..."

But actually it doesn't. Loving God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength actually includes all those things and so much more.

Why? How? Because out of my great love for Him (Oh, how I love Him!) I will do all those other things and so fulfill His purpose in my life. 

If I love God, I will love others.

If I love God, I will tell others about Him so they can know Him too. 

If I love God, I will want to obey Him. 

If I love God, I will not want to sin...even though I will fail and need to be forgiven time and time again. 

If I love God, I will live my life in such a way as to keep His commandments.

If I love God, I will seek to honor Him in the way I speak to my husband, treat my husband, respect and even (gasp!) submit to my husband. 

God's Word covers all these issues and more...but if I don't love God, I will miss the big picture of why I am even here. 

God first. Always. In all things. And suddenly, the muddy waters of doctrine and theology become very clear for me. I'm here to love God. And if I truly am striving to do that, then I will pour out love to others...His children, those people made in His image regardless of their sin or life choices. I will love.