One of the most striking things about Jesus is who He chose to spend His time with. He shared meals with tax collectors (widely hated at the time), showed compassion to prostitutes, and forgave criminals—even those who crucified Him. He never condoned their sins, but He also never turned them away. His example can’t be overstated: He reached out to the broken, the lost, and the outcasts of society. In doing so, He showed us a radical kind of love—one that is inclusive without endorsing wrongdoing.
A Radical Love
Today, many of us grapple with a culture that’s quick to label and exclude. We might feel righteous condemning sins or lifestyles we disagree with. Yet, Jesus reminds us that genuine compassion doesn’t mean accepting sin; it means seeing beyond it. He demonstrated how to love people as whole individuals, not as the sum of their faults.
Love Without Condoning
What does it look like to love someone without endorsing their sin? It means we pray for them. We talk with them instead of about them. We keep our hearts open to their struggles, and we offer grace when they fall. We don’t pretend wrong is right, but we stay present and invite them into a relationship with Christ—the very relationship that transforms hearts and lives.
The Mission of the Church
Churches are sometimes guilty of forgetting this. When we only focus on those who “fit in,” we stop resembling the Jesus who walked among outcasts. Instead, we become more like the Pharisees—focused on external purity while ignoring our own need for mercy. But Jesus called us to be a refuge for everyone, a place where people can encounter His transformative grace.
Coming Back to the Heart of Christ
We can’t lose sight of the fact that Jesus loved real, flawed people—and that includes us. Each of us carries our own struggles, sins, and failures. But the same grace He extended to sinners in the Bible is available to us today. As we remember that, we become more compassionate and less judgmental toward those who live differently or believe differently.
In the end, living like Jesus means extending love—even to those society shuns—while maintaining a commitment to truth. It’s not easy, but it’s the very essence of the Gospel: God’s grace meeting us where we are and taking us where we never could have gone on our own.
Reflection: Bringing It Home Today
- Start a Conversation: Think of someone you’ve been avoiding because their choices or lifestyle make you uncomfortable. Take a small step—reach out, listen, and let them know you care.
- Replace Judgment with Compassion: Before you write someone off, remember how Jesus chose to see past external behaviors. Ask how you can show practical kindness instead of condemnation.
- Pray for Open Doors: Ask God to reveal ways you can be a safe place for someone who feels rejected or marginalized. Look for moments to offer understanding and support.
- Invite God’s Perspective: It’s easy to focus on others’ flaws while overlooking our own. Spend time in prayer or Scripture, allowing God to show you the areas where you, too, need His grace.
