Love the Unlovable.

It seems nice and safe to think of a brand of "Christianity" where Jesus died for people who merely lie or manipulate, have shoplifted, had sex outside of marriage, worshiped money, coveted, or confess the faults that the world considers trivial, even some-what acceptable. 

It's easier to think of loving the kind of people that make us look heroic -- like loving disabled children, handing $5 to a homeless guy, helping hurricane victims, or sending food to Africa. 

All of these are wonderful. (And everyone stands in need of Christ's salvation, don't get me wrong).

 

BUT it's much harder to demonstrate love to the people that most of society deems "UNLOVEABLE"-- those who have sinned in ways it believes are unforgivable. 

What are the kind of people (or specific people we can think of) that we find hard....even impossible...to love? 

The kind of people we want to hide from view and not think about?

Jesus died for thieves, felons, sex traffickers, people who've left a trail of wrecked marriages, relationships, or dishonest business deals, frauds and scammers, liars and spammers, rapists, child-abusers, pedophiles, murderers, gang bangers, perjurers, homeless vagabonds and transients, the morally and financially bankrupt, the unemployed and the unemployable, the welfare recipients, the suicidal, those who've dishonored, betrayed or even killed their parents, slave traders, meth dealers, fentanyl users, corrupt politicians, dictators, serial killers, extortioners, rich oppressors, technocrats, abortionists, radical feminists, satanists, witches and warlocks, the demon-possessed, hate-filled and hated, alcoholics who neglect their children and family, dead-beats who don't pay child support, addicts, communists, deserters, betrayers, deniers, the rebellious and subversive, cartels, warmongers, adulterers, prostitutes, bisexuals, transsexuals, homosexuals (1 Timothy 1:10), sexual predators, the cruel and hateful, false accusers, religious oppressors and zealots, terrorists, insurgents, religious people void of love and compassion, deceivers, and false teachers.   I don't believe we've explored the depths of what this means:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes..." (Romans 1:16)

There is not a single person on the face of the Earth alive today that Jesus cannot forgive, heal, and deliver completely, and restore absolutely to a place where it would be as if they'd never done anything wrong.

If Jesus didn't die to save these kinds of people, then I don't know what we're doing.   

I don't know what kind of Message we really have.  

Do we have a Savior who really Saves anyone, or not?

Did His blood pay the price for absolutely every sin, or not?

Is He the King of kings, and the one who conquered every enemy, even death, or not?

I don't want to be a part of any kind of "Christianity" that's gutless and powerless, cowardly and fear-based.

The True Gospel is bold, powerful, unashamed, and transformational. 

These are the very people Jesus had in mind when He was dying, the very people He is going to save in this hour.  These are the "hippies" of our time that get our "carpets dirty".  God forbid that the Church in this hour would stand in the way of many of them coming into the Kingdom.  God, help us.

"Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  (Romans 5:7)

"On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mark 2:17) 

"Consequently, he is able to save to the UTTERMOST those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25)