Bridging the (Short) Gap: God's Love for Sinners - Pt. 2
Part 2 in the 'Wretched Little Sinners' Blog Series
(Go to Part 1)
Sin.
There’s a lot of it in the Bible. Little ones, big ones, and all the in-between. Let’s not even try to test the six things that are detestable to the Lord that are mentioned in Proverbs 6:16-19.
“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”
This passage reminds us of the variety of sins that displease God, many of which are often overlooked or minimized in our daily lives.
Guilty, guilty, guilty. I am so guilty!
You see, I am a sinner. Some of my sins may not be as visible as others’, but I assure you–they are there.
James 2:10 declares, "For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it."
Ouch. I guess I don’t get a pass on the “lesser” things.
As I spend time knowing families, listening to podcasts, reading books, and researching so many topics related to LGBTQ+ families, there seems to be an underlying impression that LGBTQ+ people are perceived to be more offensive sinners than other kinds of sinners, particularly when seeking to understand how a Christian perspective is woven into our relationships with those we know and love, and often judge.
Many Christians interpret that the LGBTQ+ part of their lives is what pushed them over the edge of sin, but remember that all of us sinful mommas gave birth to little sinners before LGBTQ+ became a part of their lives. If you’ve adopted or fostered your children, whether you knew about LGBTQ+ before or after receiving your children, I guarantee, they didn’t escape sinship.
Romans 5:12: “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.”
This verse underscores that sin is a universal condition affecting all humanity from birth, leveling the playing field between all people.
Some very wonderful people I have met have said they’ve been most deeply wounded by Christian people who have said that LBGTQ+ people are an abomination to the Lord. This breaks my heart for any person who has been mischaracterized and has carried the weight of being taught they are despised by God, and then believed it. If LGBTQ+ would have never been part of their stories, being a sinner is an inescapable human trait. But no person, ever, is an abomination. Things we do are identified as abominations, but people never are.
Psalm 139:14: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
This verse serves as a powerful reminder that every person is wonderfully made by God and valued, regardless of their sins or struggles.
Friends, we are all born enemies of God. Every one of us has been on a path of destruction, simply because we are born into a fallen world. Romans 5:17 says, “The power of death was over all men because of the sin of one man, Adam.”
When we wrestle with the fact that there is God, and then the rest of us, it levels the playing field. There is no “better” sinner. We are all behind the line, and it has been through His grace, and His grace alone, that we have a relationship with Jesus.
How or why he allowed me to know Him will forever be a mystery, but because He trusted me with this sacred gift, shouldn’t I want to share it, rather than weaponize it? God himself pours an increasing measure of Himself when I fail. His love and patience multiply when we need it most.
“Where sin increased, grace increased all the more.” Romans 5:20. I think I’ll camp on that one and deliver grace to other sinners like me.
Hey!
