What does it possibly mean? What does “walking in love” entail?
Which part of ‘be imitators of Christ’ relates to destroying the sinner? Why are we, human beings, tempted to take upon ourselves to get justice? Why are we comfortable with being judge, jury, and executioner?
Sinners
I do not recall Jesus ever rejecting a sinner. I do not recall Jesus debasing the Samaritan woman at the well, I do not recall Jesus punishing the adulteress who would have been stoned to death if he had not told the people ‘let he who is without sin cast the first stone’, and I do not recall the thief – a criminal and sinner according to the laws and the Law – who was crucified beside him being told off and rejected when he asked Jesus to remember him. He did not send away the centurion – surely he had killed people – who went to him to ask him to heal his servant.
Jesus did not seek to destroy the woman even though she had sinned; Jesus did not show disgust toward the thief, and Jesus did not display contempt toward the centurion. He showed compassion to the woman, he welcomed the thief, and he healed the servant because of the centurion’s faith.
Does this means Jesus chose to love these people if he forgave them on the spot and treated them well?
Jesus gave his life to reconcile the sinner with his Father, would he render his sacrifice null and void by punishing those who seek him and the Father?
God is love, he so loved the world he sent his own son to die so we could have a relationship with him… God never destroys those who seek him, God blesses them.
Advice on Behaviors
22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 24And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
2 Timothy 2:22-26 (KJV)
I think reading what the amplified Bible says is worth it.
22 Run away from youthful lusts—pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those [believers] who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But have nothing to do with foolish and ignorant speculations [useless disputes over unedifying, stupid controversies], since you know that they produce strife and give birth to quarrels. 24 The servant of the Lord must not participate in quarrels, but must be kind to everyone [even-tempered, preserving peace, and he must be], skilled in teaching, patient and tolerant when wronged. 25 He must correct those who are in opposition with courtesy and gentleness in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and be led to the knowledge of the truth [accurately understanding and welcoming it], 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
2 Timothy 2:22-26 (AMP)
Beating righteousness into people is not being an imitator of Christ. Love does not coerce, love does not destroy, love from God does not debase. The Holy Spirit convicts, man doesn’t; God knows all, no man on Earth does.
8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
1 Peter 3:8-13 (KJV)
And last but not least…
23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
1 Peter 2:23 (NKJV)
Let God take care of those who have hurt or wronged you, let God show you justice, and let God judge righteously. He knows everything, no man on Earth does.
In a nutshell, be loving, compassionate, forgiving, and kind. Keep your mouth shut when someone hurts you or wrongs you… Jesus did. Forgive, Jesus did it too.
34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.”
Luke 23:34 (NKJV)
Would he have asked God to forgive them if he had not done it himself first?
Jesus would not have been God’s son if he had only forgiven those who actually hurt him and made the rest of mankind pay for the pain he felt. God’s love is not partial, it is whole. Vengeance and justice belong to God, no one else. Partial forgiveness is not forgiveness, it is misplaced anger… but that’s a topic for another blog post.
Cross Bearing
Being a good imitator of Christ is not always painless. As he was hated, criticized, met with opposition, ridiculed, and mistreated, so will we.
14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
1 Peter 3:14-2
It takes God’s grace to be an imitator of Christ. Without his grace, human nature gets in the way, our ego gets in the way, anger, violence, and wickedness get in the way.
It takes yielding to the Holy Spirit to be an imitator of Christ.
Character of the New Man
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Colossians 3:12-17 (NKJV)
A Pen for Christian Fiction 