What's all this talk about love?

Love.

It's what fairy tales are made of. Kisses, hugs, butterflies in the stomach, winks, playful pinches, giggles...all the by-products of so-called "love."

Where did love go wrong? These above mentioned by-products are nice if you experience them. But love extends beyond the mere superficial nature of affection.

I've been thinking a lot lately about Jesus Christ's ministry and who he was as a man. And if you read the scriptured recordings of his life, you can't help but notice how much he talks about love. And never did he mention about buying flowers or boxes of chocolates.

As a Christian, I do believe Jesus had two purposes: simply to show us how to live and to suffice as the ultimate sacrifice for human salvation. I want to discuss the first purpose.

Jesus really had a simple message: "Love one another, as I have loved you."

So, I've been thinking about this kind of love and what he has commanded of me. This love is about loving people despite their faults, race, religion, ethinicity, sins, wrongdoings against me. It requires forgiveness--much forgiveness.

This kind of love is what makes people open up their wallets to help their community, a friend or family member. This kind of love makes people fly across the globe and risk disease and danger to help those who have none. This kind of love encourages soldiers to sacrifice their lives for their country. This kind of love brings you back to someone who has wronged you.

Most importantly, this kind of love requires me to practice seeing people through the eyes of God and not through my judgemental human eyes. It means that I love ALL people...not just those that I deem worthy.

I believe 100% that if Jesus Christ lived in 2011, he would be dining with the people that we think are sinners. He would be angry at our church leaders for their selfishness and self-righteousness. He would be angry at the so-called "Christians" for the same. I'm sure he would beg a lot of people to quit calling themselves Christians altogether because more damage to his ministry is being done than good.

Becoming a Christian should be the single most mystical experience a human being has. It should transform your heart to love and not judge. NEVER ONCE DID JESUS TO ASK US TO JUDGE. Really people, look in your Bible if you don't believe me. I think God has this taken care of and doesn't need our help.
BUT JESUS DID ASK US TO LOVE.

So, despite the fact that I've been taught to judge the Catholics (because that's what the Baptists do), the homosexuals, the prostitutes and drug dealers, the lady that lives above the laundry mat, the person buying cigarettes at a gas station, the patrons of the local bars, the girls that wore blue jean skirts to church, the divorced woman, the couple that is living outside of wedlock, the people that go to nightclubs, the Democrats, The Beatles, Princess Diana, the pregnant teenager, the people who read another bible translation other than the King James Version, the...you get the picture!

So, despite all that, I LOVE THEM ALL. That's right. I love them. And, just like the very simple children's song, Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong. They are weak but he is strong.

Yeah, Jesus is strong enough to love everyone. And, I believe he can make me strong enough to love everyone too.

So, the next time your angry at a Christian...don't be angry at Jesus. Just remember, every family has a black sheep or two...Christianity has them too! And, take that anger and love them.