Love God. Love People.

I always find myself discouraged when I am talking with someone and the minute that they find out I am a 'christian' they feel they are being judged by me. It's almost as if you insantly see this protective wall go up and they clump me into "that" category. I hate that feeling! Since when did my relationship with Jesus give me the authority to BE God and judge people for the things they have done or even are doing? Last time I checked Jesus said

"Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them."

It doesn't say "Love others...as long as they are like you..." or "Love others that are doing everything exactly the way they should...or you think they should". It just simply says "Love others as well as yourself" This whole scripture paraphrased; Love God, Love People. I'm sick and tired of being categorized as "small-minded" or "judgemental" just because I profess to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. It's time that people who bare the name of Jesus realize that we CAN, and Christ DOES love people regardless of their past AND PRESENT! We have got to stop trying to "fix" them or preach at them or convict them. (How dare we take the job of the Holy Spirit!) We are called to love them. As we love them and show them the love of Christ and represent our LOVING, COMPASSIONATE, FORGIVING, CLEANSING, LIFE-CHANGING God, we are doing more than any hurtful, condemning, damning word could ever do. We are being Jesus with skin on. We are showing them the true nature and heart of our God. We then have to trust Him to do the transformation. The way some professed "christians" represent my God, I can understand why people would shun Him. I can see why they turn away and resist His "love". I wouldn't want love from anyone who i was told repeatedly "hated" me and was going to "cast me down into fiery pits of hell for my sins". Don't get me wrong, I know truths. I know what the Word says and I stand behind every single word. I just don't think that this is something we should be telling people that don't even know Him. There is so many BETTER things that we can tell them about Him. About His LOVE and FORGIVENESS and GRACE and His JOY in them. If they don't even have a relationship with Him, they more than likely already know the 'fiery pits of hell' scenario and have decided it's not true either. We have GOT to lead in love. It is so very important. It is a command.....of God....doesn't get any plainer than that! Ok, I'm off my soap box. I won't apologize for anything that I have said and I mean it all from the deepest part of my heart. I am so, so tired of people claiming to LOVE others but slandering and judging and gossiping and hating. I'm offended to be grouped into that category and I'm offended that people represent MY God that way. We have ALL fallen short. We have ALL sinned. We have no right to judge anyone, We are to LOVE them...LOVE them TO Him and let HIM handle the heart changes! Love God, Love People.