Upon hearing that a hate-filled group of people would be demonstrating near our church, I wrote the following to my family:

Dear Loved Ones,

I was in a discussion yesterday about how the “fall” (sin and rebellion against God) was part of God’s plan, in the sense that He knew ahead of time that man would rebel.  We discussed our inability to fully understand His omniscience.  I have had this conversation many times with others.

Knowing there are people, groups who have forgotten Christ’s teaching that only he who is without sin has the right to condemn. Those who are actively preaching hate, violence, and condemnation against certain groups of sinners (fellow rebels), falsely I believe, in His name…

how then should we live?  How should we respond?

  Christ and His sacrifice were foreknowledge before Earth’s creation!  God, knowing we would “fall”, provided ahead of time for our redemption.  Why?  Because He loves us! Though we were and are very unlovable! 

 How then should we live?  As temporary guests in the home of another. In obedience to Him, the owner of the home, with sincere love for one another (other guests) following His example of pure love.  And, His Truth is Love. 

 How to convey His Truth in a loving way to the other guests (fellow rebels) is a challenge. Perhaps with warning, as a Light on a hill, but not with hate, violence, or condemnation.

The Scriptures were given to us to teach, correct, train, and rebuke when necessary.  Why? To equip each other to do God’s work here on Earth.  But not to condemn.  Only He is without sin. Only He has this right.

 We are just passing through to a destination prepared for us.  With limited time here…how then shall we live?

Love one another…as He loves us…with Truth, forgiveness, compassion, grace, and mercy… as well as correction, and rebuke based upon His Word when necessary.

Dad (Mike, Grampy),

1 Peter 1:17–25 (ESV): 

And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.  He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you  who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;  for

      “All flesh is like grass

      and all its glory like the flower of grass.

      The grass withers,

      and the flower falls,

      but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.