You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?

As our executive pastor, Eric Bryant, spoke on this passage last night I began to think about how it applied to much of what we discuss here.  I don’t think people need to be reminded too often that God is wrathful.  In fact, I would say that the majority of people in this world think of God as an angry dictator in heaven, just waiting to strike someone down dead for their sins.  This is a huge reason why people do not get involved with spiritual life.  They are either too guilty or repelled with their notion of who God is.

However, the scriptures tell us that it is God’s kindness that leads people to repentance.  Paul actually is addressing people who dislike the notion that God is tolerant with people.  And yes, the scriptures say that God is t-o-l-e-r-a-n-t.  How much more should we be patient and tolerant of people who are not where we are on our spiritual journey?  If it is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance, than should we not be known for our love?  However, so often the Christian world is known for what we are against.  I wonder what would happen if we were known by our kindness, tolerance and patience rather than our hate, divisiveness and pride.

So often I hear that love is telling the whole truth, which includes that which hurts.  That is so true.  However, that kind of truth can only come in relationships, not machine gun style spreading of truth.  Could you imagine me walking up to a dangerously overweight stranger and saying, “You are really unhealthy, and it’s pretty socially awkward to have you in public.  And because I love you, I felt that I need to say that.”  I have to first bring that person into my life, and develop credibility and permission to speak this truth.  However, people on the watchdoggie blogs and elsewhere do this very thing everyday.  Does the whole truth need to be shared?  Yes!  But it is always done best in trusting relationships.

I dare all of us to allow the people that Christians love to hate into our lives.  What would happen if we, rather than writing hate truth blogs about people, we went out into our communities and actually befriended gays, Catholics, minorities, Muslims, and even Baptists.  And not befriending them as a “project”, but authentically loving them with the love of Christ.  If every follower of Christ did this, then a lot more people would see the kindness, tolerance and patience of our God, and be drawn to repentance.

shameless plug:  Eric Michael Bryant’s new book, Peppermint-Filled Piñatas (Zondervan) is out in stores everywhere.  It is an excellent resource on this topic.  You can check out some of it on his blog here, or purchase it here.