One of the most difficult challenges to becoming a more biblical church in my opinion is dealing with misconceptions concerning the concept of "love."  The world has done a masterful job superimposing their ideas on what love is onto the church by grabbing one or two Scriptures that seemingly fit their point, and hurling them at Christians. 

Believers striving for a biblical worldview and concept of love are often told they are judgmental, or that "Jesus is about love not condemnation," or the common refrain: "See, this is why I don't go to church...God is about love and ya'll don't show that."

Desiring to "love our neighbors" as ourselves is a command of Christ no doubt; but He also said to "love the Lord our God, with all our hearts, souls, and minds" (Matt 22:37-39).  And therein lies the difficulty I think.  For the unbeliever or for the believer trapped in consistent sin, the concept of love starts with them...what they are going through, how they feel, and what they "think" should happen towards them.  But biblical love must first start with God!  At this point one often hears, "Love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8).  But a quick check of the context gives us some insight on what true, biblical love is...

"Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.  For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.  With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.  For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does. The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.  Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." (1Pe 4:1-8 ESV)
 

Far from ignoring sin, excusing sin, or tolerating sin, biblical love simply forgives sin based on honest repentance (because that's what God does for us) while at the same time, preaching against it to those caught in it (because that's what God commands!).  Peter (and James as well...James 5:19-20) makes this point clearly.

In our quest to be loving, if we choose not to speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15), we are abandoning a culture suffocating in sin to the very thing that will separate them from God.  That's not love!!!

True, biblical love finds it's center in Jesus: His heart, His Word, and His commands.  Biblical love first loves God, and from that place finds the right way to love others.  True biblical love doesn't overlook sin; it hates it.  True love abhors that which destroys another person made in the image of God.  "It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth" (1 Cor 13:6).  So like Jesus, biblical love heals but takes a stand against what is false; it delivers the hurting but will also take a whip to ongoing wrongdoing; it gently restores the repentant person but warns the idolater; it is very bold but very humble.  The Apostle John records some words from our Lord that reflect the dual nature of divine love:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God."  (Joh 3:16-21 ESV)
 

That's love people.  Eternal life for those who believe; damnation for those who don't.  Yes it breaks God's heart, but that is the nature of love.  Many you love will not always love you in return.  So biblical love is both tender and fierce; patient AND passionate concerning righteousness.  It cuts when cutting is needed, and mends when mending is called for.  It does this through following the commands laid out in the Word of God...no more, no less.

People who truly love God and others rejoice when someone is saved and weep when wickedness is celebrated.  True love simply wants what God wants.  And truly..."what the world needs now, is love sweet love."  But not the kind conjured up by man; it needs the sort given by God through His Spirit and Word.

So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.  (Gen 2:21-24 ESV)

You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.  (Lev 18:22 ESV)

He (Jesus) answered, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."  (Mat 19:4-6 ESV)

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.  (Rom 1:18-28 ESV)

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.  (Eph 5:22-23 ESV)

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.  (1Co 6:9-11 ESV)

Understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.  (1Ti 1:9-11 ESV)

And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day-- just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.  (Jud 1:6-7 ESV)

A good article on the Bible and Homosexuality

This is what I sent Dave last week, along with a clip of CRCC's Debt-Free Scream.  They decided to show it to Dave's whole team! 

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Greetings Mr. Ramsey and the whole Lampo crew!

I’d just like to once again, thank you for all you’ve done for me, my family, and our church, and through us, other churches as well. The FPU mindset is catching hold here in Hampton Roads, VA!

Enclosed, you’ll find a short clip of our Debt-Free Scream on May 8, 2011. It was the first service in our new facility which we paid cash for!

After 14 years of renting and believing God, putting people before steeples, and diligently working to help families pay off debt through FPU and Momentum, God blessed us with a 3.5 acres and a nice facility to minister to our 500 member congregation and our community.

After becoming debt free and seeing so many others become debt free in our church, I knew it could be done.  God’s principles are true!  Since our church has never borrowed a dime, we’ve been able to help so many spiritually and financially, included lots of missions support (we have an orphanage in Cambodia) and support to single moms and children.  So stay encouraged friends.  You are making a real, Kingdom impact around the world!

And to Dave Ramsey….from reading your TMMO book many years ago (at the begging of my lovely wife), to having the honor of being on the 700 club with you, to meeting you again at your first Momentum training a couple of years ago…brother…honestly…I simply love you.  And Donna and I, with all our hearts, praise God for you.  May Christ continue to richly bless the work of your hands. Love ya Dave!!!

Sincerely,

Dr. Carlton C. McLeod
Senior Pastor
 

If you were to ask the average Christian sitting in a worship service on Sunday morning to summarize the message of Christianity, you would most likely hear something along the lines of "The message of Christianity is that God loves me." Or someone might say, "The message of Christianity is that God loves me enough to send His Son, Jesus, to die for me."

As wonderful as this sentiment sounds, is it biblical?  Isn't it incomplete, based on what we have seen in the Bible?  "God loves me" is not the essence of biblical Christianity.  Because if "God loves me" is the message of Christianity, then who is the object of Christianity?

God loves me.

Me.

Christianity's object is me.

Therefore, when I look for a church, I look for music that best fits me and the programs that best cater to me and my family.  When I make plans for my life and career, it is about what works best for me and my family.  When I consider the house I will live in, the car I will drive, the clothes I will wear, the way I will live, I will chose according to what is best for me.  This is the version of Christianity that largely prevails in our culture.

But it is not biblical Chrisitianity.

---David Platt

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We sang at song at CRCC not long ago.  It went something like...

"It's all about you...Jesus.  And all this is for you, for your glory and your fame.  It's not about me...as if you should do things my way.  You alone are God, and I surrender...to your way."

Lord, may we catch this truth deep down and live it out for Your glory.