I don't know what the right answer is.

"Christians are being persecuted not for loving Jesus too much but for loving people too little."

I don't know what the right answer is. I don't know what the right answer is to coping with the changes that are happening in our world. I don't know what the right side of politics are. I don't know what the best solution to transgender bathrooms is. I don't know what side of the fence I fall on for most movements. Some parts of feminism are great and others confuse me. Im still trying to filter and figure out how to openly discuss these issues and form my own opinions.  I don't know how I feel about the recent video that went viral about millennialist of today and how we are lazy. It doesn't help that there are 1000s of well written articles supporting and denying all of these things.

 Our generation is different than the generations before us. I know that. Our world is changing and different. That is fact.

I get so discouraged getting on social media these days. For every article or video someone post about an issue or opinion there are 4 more posted against it. I've watched so many people take a stand for their opinions. I've seen extreme measures taken to express these opinions.

Regardless of whether you think America is moving forward or backwards with these changes, our society is changing. The typical american dream is changing.

I've been thinking about this quote a lot recently and about the recent boycott of target. This is not a post defending or supporting target, that is not the point.

I find myself asking Jesus want would you do if you walked in todays society? Its a question that burdens my heart because I wonder if he would boycott things similar to how we are treating target.

But I do know one thing he would do.

He would love.

What does that look like? What would it look like to love?

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

This verse convicts me because I wonder how many times I haven't been any of these things in light of all the controversial things that have taken place with in the last 3 years. I'd be willing to bet a lot. This verse convicts me because I need to be better at being patient and listening, regardless of whether the persons lifestyle is like mine or not.

 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." - Matthew 22:37-39

When his disciples asked him what the greatest commandment was his response was... love.

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. - 1 Corinthians 13:13

When I look at Jesus' time walking on earth I see him reaching out to the least likely people. I don't see him accusing right or wrong. He is patient. He is patient with you and me. He is kind. His words are kind. He takes the time to stop and listen. He does not envy nor boast. If I'm being honest and I was the son of God... I'd be boasting and moving mountains to show off. He didn't get angry. He didn't shut down. He didn't walk away. He never brought up sin again. He never pointed out peoples past. He rejoiced in truth. He never got angry with people over their differences and sin. He always pointed back to truth. The truth is that God loves his people and we are all broken and flawed in need of a savior. Jesus protects. He saved a woman from being stoned to death for her sins. He trusted the father to guide him. He trusted the father to protect him. He hoped. He hoped for the people he encountered. He didn't get discouraged. He persevered through unimaginable trials.

I can't help but wonder if maybe we are so focused on protecting our laws and our old habits we are missing the beautiful opportunity to demonstrate love to those who need it. I can't help but wonder if we are so focused on what scripture says is wrong and how we can stay in our safe bubbles of "rightness", then we miss out on learning and experiencing grace first hand. Grace is a difficult thing. Its difficult because where grace is found there is a mess that was made.

Maybe we are missing the point, the bigger picture.

There isn't a black and white answer to the issues we face today. Im still figuring out how to navigate this life. I don't know what side of the fence you sit on and I don't know what side of the fence I sit on for some issues. But, I do know that if you are a christian then you are called to love. I am called to love. That doesn't mean you have to agree or advocate something. It simply means to be patient, kind, to persevere, to hope, to trust, to say calm, and to stand in truth.


So, in light of the events that our world is contemplating I'm asking you to filter these things first through love.

May the lord forgive me for the times I have walked away from opportunities to love. May he forgive me for the times I have closed off curious minds from the gospel from my harsh actions. May he change the parts of me that are holding on to my "rightness" so I may embrace others more.



For what its worth... I think Jesus would still go to target.