This is an essay I (Jim) wrote for publication in the 8/09 Unidiversal newsletter:
I believe one verse in the Bible that really describes the core of Christianity is John 3:16 (KJV) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” There are those who would interpret a handful of other verses in a way that directly contradicts with this critically important truth. They would have you think that because you were born with an orientation different than being attracted strictly to the opposite sex that you are disqualified from this promise.
The problem with that, however, is that it doesn’t match up with what Jesus said. He said “Whosoever believeth in Him” would have eternal life. He didn’t say that we had to be a Republican, wealthy, a college graduate, or straight. Whosoever means “no matter who.” Hard to parse that out into anything other than complete and full inclusiveness.
Sadly, the same folks that whiff on John 3:16 also seem to miss the next verse too:
John 3:17 (KJV) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. It seems to me like a lot of “fundamentalists” spend a lot more time using God’s word to condemn than to save. When people say “hate the sin, love the sinner,” (allow time for cringing) they often seem to be a lot better at the hate part than the love. I’m sure some of you have been pushed away from a church (perhaps literally) by a congregation preaching that message. I doubt you felt the love, but I’m pretty sure you got the hate part loud and clear.
In the ministry the Lord has led Brenda and myself into, we are trying to turn that around. The message of Jesus is one of hope, not condemnation. True, there are terrible consequences for not yielding our lives and claiming Him as our savior, but Jesus spent most of his time on earth preaching about the hope we ALL have for eternal peace and fellowship with Him because of his sacrifice at the cross.
Shouldn’t our message be one where we share that hope with those who don’t know it, who haven’t embraced it, who need a savior? Not this angry God who has become so popular in “fundamentalist” churches either--the one who loves us enough that he sent His son to Earth to die a painful death just to save us.
It would be so easy to turn on those who have propagated hate and discrimination in God’s name and return fire with anger and display the pain they have caused in your lives.
Let me encourage you, though, to show them love, peace, and the hope that you received from the real Jesus. That’s doing it the hard way, but isn’t that the way Jesus lived his life and completed His earthly ministry?
The best way we all can share the hope and love of Jesus is to do our best to live like Him, even when it’s hard.
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You wrote: “I believe one verse in the Bible that really describes the core of Christianity is John 3:16 (KJV) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
ReplyDeleteI want to comment on atonement that this verse is about.
How to live in order to enable the Creator in His loving kindness to provide His kipur –atonement- is outlined in Tan’’kh ; and was also taught by Ribi Yehoshua. The first century Ribi Yehoshua from Nazareth (the Mashiakh; the Messiah) taught in accordance with Tan’’kh the only way to get connection with the Creator, This way is found both in Torah and in Ribi Yehoshuas teachings found in our website – http://www.netzarim.co.il
Anders Branderud