Love Wins, Part 3: Does Love Win Through Me?

In the wake of the June 2015 U.S. Supreme court ruling declaring the unconstitutionality of the ban on same-sex marriage bans, advocates celebrated vigorously using the slogan, “Love Wins.”

In previous articles, we have addressed how the Father’s sacrificial love wins over selfishness and how Jesus’ love wins over intolerance. Since then, many of you suggested we explain a practical way to apply these truths. What a powerful testament to God’s movement!

How Sides Are Defined During the Debate

Our culture has taken distinct sides in the same-sex marriage debate. Yet the divide is not simply about the issue itself. Rather, sides have been defined in the ways people process information today.

Generalization. Today, society classifies sides by focusing on a single comment, idea, or approach from one person. That individual becomes representative of a group. You may experience generalization when you are defined this way: “Christians are just religious bigots.”
Superficiality. Today, society seeks to simplify complexity by compressing an issue into sound bites. Although there may be truth to, “My God loves the person but hates the sin” – a concise summary of less than 10 words – others may hear judgment rather than grace. Hurry and information overload lead to a shallow grasp of the issues.

As a result of how 21st century information flows, Christ-followers may find themselves or their views to be misunderstood.

Or are we?

Love Lived Out Is Not Misunderstood

How do you process information during the debate? Christ-followers can become consumed with “being right” about the same-sex issue. Or the debate can seem so big that you, too, become overwhelmed and use generalities, dismissing comments with a superficial wave of hand.

Or you can embrace a different approach. In Rick Renner’s Sparkling Gems from the Greek (Harrison House, 2012), 1 Corinthians 13:4 reads like this: “Love patiently and passionately bears with others for as long as patience is needed” (p. 688).

What might happen if Christ-followers allow the Holy Spirit to convict us of what we need to do to live out God’s love in our lives … for as long as needed?

Any unrighteousness separates us from God’s presence. While another person’s sin of sexual immorality or homosexuality separates him from God, likewise my sin of any kind prevents me from having a share in His presence, whether it’s my impatience … my demanding self-centeredness and pride … my need to be right and win the argument … my manipulative desire to turn things to my advantage… my hurry …

Yet when I invite the Holy Spirit into my hidden places, He shows me where I have failed. He strengthens my ability to anticipate the best of and for others. He builds my persistence to not quit or fail to love until the last possible opportunity presents itself. He shows me how to love specific people and how to invest time to build relationships of depth rather than superficiality.

Love lived out is not misunderstood. It is easy to recognize on the receiving end.

In looking inward to let God work in my hidden soul – and live out love in my life – love wins.

The Father’s agape love wins over selfish love. Jesus’ unconditional love wins over intolerance. And the Holy Spirit’s love wins through me when I invite Him in to do the work of conviction, repentance, and restoration.

Will you let Him do that great work in you?