I AM BLOG.

As I was driving to the library today, I saw some people on the street corner holding signs. They said things like, “God will judge the world… Believe in Jesus,” or, “The wages of sin is death… Reconcile yourself with God.” Something along those lines.

But one thing I’ve never seen on a sign is something about God’s love. Why not share about God’s love? As Christians, we’ve told the world that they are sinners and that sinners go to hell. That’s nothing new. Clearly, this method isn’t working, and why should it? We’re so busy judging and condemning the world on top of our high horses, that we never take the time to actually show the world God’s love. Why preach by fire, when we can preach love?

What these people say on the street corner is true, but they’re missing the point. Sure, there needs to be a point in people’s lives where they recognize their sins and turn to God, knowing that it is through Christ we are saved. But how can someone experience this conviction without experiencing God’s love first? Is it by guilt that we are saved?

One of the signs that I saw today quoted Romans 6:23, but just the first half. “For the wages of sin is death…” But why stop there?

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Preach hell all you want, but we won’t see change that way. Show people God’s love and we will see change. The Gospel isn’t about striking fear into people, rather, the Gospel is about giving people hope. We receive grace because God loves us. We are set free from our sins because of Christ’s blood. We have hope and a promise of eternal life because we believe these things.