Jesus Loves You

We started a series called Jesus Loves You, based on the book by Craig Gross and Jason Harper (and also the most important truth from the Bible!). Often times, that quote can be taken for granted, misunderstood, and underestimated. For some, it could be that they have heard it so often. For others, it could be that they have never seen that modeled. And for some others, they have actually seen the opposite of that from those that claim to follow Christ.

Whatever the case may be, the statement is still true. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, what you have done, and where you are going. The simple truth is that Jesus loves YOU.

For those that are “saved,” meaning they have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, this statement rings especially true. The biggest reason is that we have experienced that love firsthand. We are sinners that have been redeemed by His love for us!

The downside to that is that sometimes we can begin to place ourselves above those around us that have not yet experienced that love for themselves. Many well-meaning Christians find it easier to judge and criticize from the safe corner of the church building instead of going out and actually loving the world.

The simple truth that Jesus Loves You also applies to people that don’t belong to Christ. Their life choices have not led them to a place of belief in Jesus, but He still loves them. Maybe they’re Buddhist. Maybe they’re gay. Maybe they read horoscopes and mix potions to cast spells. The truth is, Jesus loves every one of them. In fact, He loves them just AS MUCH as He loves us. Who are we to think that we are somehow above them simply because we have found Christ (or Christ has found us)? The bottom line is that we are all sinners. And Jesus died for every sinner, me included.

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
Romans 5.8 (NLT)

When we look at people that are different than us in belief, behavior, appearance, speech, etc., we typically want to judge for not being like Christ. Or for not being “Christian” or even conservative. But we have to begin to realize that they are in a different plight, and that Jesus loves them just as much as He loves us.

Unless they’re in proximity to the message of hope, they’ll never understand the liberating power of that message.”
- Jason Harper, Outreach Pastor, Capital Christian Center, Sacramento, Ca.

This single question has been ringing in my head and spirit for a while. What does loving THEM actually look like? There’s a Christian cliche that I can’t tell you how many times I have heard. It goes like this: Love the sinner, hate the sin. More often than not, that is easier said than done. More than that, most Christians say that without really thinking through what that really means. What does loving them but hating the sin really look like? Is that really the approach of Jesus? I don’t know. The Jesus that I read about in the Bible seems closer to loving the sinner, looking past the sin. Once the love and open arms were given, then opportunity came for sin to be forgiven by the Savior. In fact, Jesus had more tolerance for the sin of the sinner than the judgment of the religious. So maybe we have missed that one too. But I don’t know. That’s just me.

It’s essential to show people they can belong in our world, your world, even if they don’t act, think, behave, or believe like you!
- Craig Gross

I want Adrenaline Student Culture to be a place where we preach and model a Jesus in such a way that everyone belonged! Regardless of upbringing, lifestyle, nationality, political stance, religious views. sexual orientation, Jesus loves. And so should we.

Real religion, the kind that passes muster (meets the requirements) before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.
James 1.27 (MSG)

Jesus loves THEM just as much as he loves ME. What is it going to take for ME to show THEM that Jesus loves THEM?

Pastor Tony

*Jesus Loves You logo and quotes taken from Jesus Loves You This I Know by Craig Gross and Jason Harper