Anger v. Love

A friend of mine posted this quote a few days ago:

"Anger is a proper response to injustice. It is not, however, proper motivation for action against injustice."

I'd say this hits the nail on the head. I believe that as believers, all to often we are driven by our anger toward the way things are going in the world and thus anger is ingrained in our actions. I have to admit that I used to be this way. I was consumed by the thought of awakening the bride of Christ in America. In and of itself, not such a terrible thing. But I was so driven by my anger toward this nation that I have no doubt my actions would have been as well.

See I believe whole-heartedly that we are to be the voice for the voiceless; for the over-looked; for the marginalized and so on. But it can never be that we take action on the Lord's behalf unless we are driven by love. Love for an individual, love for a group, love for our brothers and sisters around the world. We have to LOVINGLY call out truth in people's lives.

It breaks my heart when I hear of a church group parading the streets with banners saying "God hates fags," and things of the like. Is it any wonder why more and more people are leaving the church and/or never give it a chance in the first place? And yet I call to mind the fact that I have to love such groups just as much as anyone else.

And yes, I mean ANYONE else. Even the child abusers you ask? Yes. The murderers? You bet. The list never ends, and neither should love. The love of the Lord cannot run out, otherwise it would be seemingly be useless. But it only by HIS love that we are able to love such individuals. I'm willing to admit that some of the acts committed by people just utterly disturb me. All I know is that I am called to love, and love unconditionally.

Neither can I judge others, otherwise I condemn myself. It is God who justifies. And he is both just and the justifier. How is this possible? He is just in that he for our sake willingly gave of himself that we might have the opportunity to spend eternity with him.

I'm not sure if any of this makes sense. All I know is, as we go out and speak against the injustice of this world, may it never be that we act according to our anger, which is a tool of the enemy, but let us instead be utterly consumed by the love of the Lord.

Thanks for stopping by :)

-Courtney