Is it possible to love people too much? Accept them too fully?
I was recently exchanging ideas with a college-age woman about this very thing. She was expressing her concern over what others might think if we were to fully embrace those still marked by their brokenness or bound by sin. I can relate to her dilemma. Having grown up in the church, I have felt the same pangs of guilt-by-association at various points through my life.
I think the cautiousness she was referencing is rooted in a misunderstood concept from Scripture found in 1 Thessalonians 5:22. The King James Version states that those who follow Christ are to: “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” That reading makes it sound like: “It’s not good enough that you’re not sinning. You can’t even be near sin or sinners, lest it appear to someone that you may have slipped into sin yourself.” Ouch. That’s a tough standard. Yet, I think it’s a fair description of the kind of churched-culture in which I was raised. It wasn’t meant to be unloving, but it made me wary of getting too close to “sinners” or those “in the world”.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 is more accurately translated in other versions of the Bible. The New American Standard Bible, for example, reads: “abstain from every form of evil.” That makes it more about my personal choices than it does about keeping up appearances to avoid guilt-by-association.
Jesus lived in such radical opposition to the rule-of-appearance that he was accused of being a drunkard and a friend of sinners (see Luke 7:34). He was scandalous in his day and culture. How about you and me? As followers of Jesus are we creating love-scandals, or are we more concerned about what others will think?
An unintended consequence of a church culture that is governed by a rule-of-appearance is that it alienates its people from those whom God is longing to embrace: “Keep people who aren’t like you at arms distance.” But if we don’t embrace those who need Jesus’ touch, who will?
As a recovering rule-of-appearance and scandal-averse guy, what suggestions would you give me, and others, who desire to love as Jesus did?
Unsolicited Hope 
Learn love, true love, by seeking God’s presence. Experiencing God’s love knocks all the proverbial cobwebs down and out of the windows. Christ needs us to infiltrate the poor and destitute and addicted with love. His message is love. Preaching and lifting up His name is not as effective as lifting Him up by extending a hand to His beloved and seeing with His eyes. Christianity should be about one thing only: being reconciled to the One who paid the price you could not. We are to be reunited…now! Not later in heaven…now! There is power available to those who diligently seek to know God and His love. The rest is easy. Once the flame is burning you up on the inside…all that is left is love..no “self” is left…we must “lose our lives” and take up our own death (cross) daily. He does that for you when you stand before Him and behold and taste His Spirit. All forms of beauty and service blossom out of a one-on-one with the One who loves you the most. Thanks for a great post! God bless you.
Wow…well said! Thanks for the comment.
“Preaching and lifting up His name is not as effective as lifting Him up by extending a hand to His beloved and seeing with His eyes.”
I think that maybe when BOTH of these things are activated together, as we see in Jesus’ own ministry, redemption is in full-gear.
Yes, but sometimes we find it necessary to “slip under the radar” so to speak. People don’t trust Christians any longer. They sometimes think that you are helping them so you can fulfil a “quota” of lost souls. Or they are just prejudiced against “holy” people. When you are empowered by the Holy Spirit, you just follow His lead…the message of your heart becomes truly genuine. Freedom is so very nice. I’m glad I’m not “driving the bus” any longer!
Wisdom should always prevail. The Holy Spirit is quite capable of assisting us in our interactions with those who appear to be living in a different reality.
Pastor Ced: very true! My heart is that I’ll listen better to what the Holy Spirit is saying.