Love

Thomas White said:

Christ's love does not involve the lake of fire. Christ's love saves people from the fire. The choices people make result in the lake of fire, not Christ's love. To pretend otherwise misrepresents how lucky we are to be loved.

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Christ is God.

God punishes.

You think that when he comes in glory it will be with the cuddle of power?

Thomas White said:

The most basic tenet of Christianity is love; yet, how many Christians, especially in my home country of the United States, actually embrace that tenet? Every day, I see people who claim to be Christ's followers deny other people acceptance into the fold because of what they wear, how they look, and where they are from. The Bible says many will be deceived. I used to think the Church as a whole would be on the right side of things, but now, I wonder if the majority of Christians are the deceived. We cannot follow Christ without love. Has the Church abandoned love for the sake of worldly things such as wealth and political agenda?

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I feel love has been abandoned here in the US. Not sure why. I would say people are wrapped up in themselves and their groups maybe?

If you want love in church, it's like you have you earn it somehow. Not by giving but by unwaivering compliance and unquestioning devotion to the powers that be. Maybe those of high status get special treatment? I wouldn't know.

On the bright side, there is always someone at every church I've been to that will just love you for being there. Love you for smiling back. Love you for being a brother or sister in Christ. They are what is holding us together I imagine. Bless them.

Such love isnt the norm though. I've learned to just try and keep my head down at church and pray not to be noticed. People are not typically loving as you say. Not even church people.

Thomas White said:

Sure. God punishes. He punishes because of the sins of man, the choices humans make. God is also love. Unfailing and unwavering love. God holds us in His embrace. He carries us when we fall and lifts us up when we cannot rise on our own.

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And anything that God does, including chastisement and punishment, is consistent with both His love and justice.

Thomas White said:

Sure. God punishes. He punishes because of the sins of man, the choices humans make. God is also love. Unfailing and unwavering love. God holds us in His embrace. He carries us when we fall and lifts us up when we cannot rise on our own.

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Point being that Matthew 22:14 and Matthew 7:14

Meaning that the majority of the human race are toast: 2 Thessalonians 1:9

Thomas White said:

The most basic tenet of Christianity is love; yet, how many Christians, especially in my home country of the United States, actually embrace that tenet? Every day, I see people who claim to be Christ's followers deny other people acceptance into the fold because of what they wear, how they look, and where they are from. The Bible says many will be deceived. I used to think the Church as a whole would be on the right side of things, but now, I wonder if the majority of Christians are the deceived. We cannot follow Christ without love. Has the Church abandoned love for the sake of worldly things such as wealth and political agenda?

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From what I've observed Church is very tribal and if you don't fit the mold it's difficult getting acceptance which tends to question our motivation of Church is it inward focused or outward focused? Which should it be and which should be stronger? An outward focused Church would be fully contextualized and probably operate at people's homes in small groups with stuff like BBQs and casual dress but even that takes on an insider culture over time where people dress the same, bring the same cuts of beef, have the same kids etc... and it alienates us to those who don't look and act that way. How do we prevent this tribal creep of the church where we become more focused on what's in it for me rather than what's in it for those on the outside.

Thomas White said:

The most basic tenet of Christianity is love; yet, how many Christians, especially in my home country of the United States, actually embrace that tenet? Every day, I see people who claim to be Christ's followers deny other people acceptance into the fold because of what they wear, how they look, and where they are from. The Bible says many will be deceived. I used to think the Church as a whole would be on the right side of things, but now, I wonder if the majority of Christians are the deceived. We cannot follow Christ without love. Has the Church abandoned love for the sake of worldly things such as wealth and political agenda?

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Like the 7 churches in Revelation (chapters 2 and 3)...or worse than any of them...

Do we welcome the stranger...or only welcome a few we like?....

As Christ said:
Matthew 5:18 For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

God's Law --
Leviticus 19:34 You must treat the foreigner living among you as native-born and love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

And now perfected into its essence, for us today --
Matthew 7:12 In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.

Refugees/immigrants on our border are the 'stranger'.
This is much more serious than many people realize! --

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

...

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in...

Matthew 25 NIV

Thomas White said:

The most basic tenet of Christianity is love; yet, how many Christians, especially in my home country of the United States, actually embrace that tenet? Every day, I see people who claim to be Christ's followers deny other people acceptance into the fold because of what they wear, how they look, and where they are from. The Bible says many will be deceived. I used to think the Church as a whole would be on the right side of things, but now, I wonder if the majority of Christians are the deceived. We cannot follow Christ without love. Has the Church abandoned love for the sake of worldly things such as wealth and political agenda?

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Hello Thomas,
It is good that you put hope in love or long for steadfast love of God, being fruitfully evident in the lives of those who are called christians, especially in your home country.

It is good that you hate what you see or hate the false way of those who claim Jesus’s follower but only accept people the fold because of what they wear, how they look, and where they are from.

As we have heard: in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD;-Psalms 15:4

But remember there are those who fear the Lord, that we should honor.

Even though majority of the Christians are ungrateful and still set their minds on the things of the flesh, we should not hate them; otherwise we can be in danger living in the dark because we do not keep the commandments to love one another in Christ.
Rather, we should humble ourselves before God to give the strength to forgive those who mistreat and offend us. As the Lord have shown His mercy to us, we show mercy to them who mistreat and offend us.
When we bless those who mistreat us, we inherit heavenly blessings. Thus, we remain in God’s grace.

Like you have heard before that those who DO NOT deny themselves, carry the cross and follow Jesus actually have not come after Jesus ; those people who honor the Lord with
the lips but their hearts are far from the Lord;
These do not have the Lord and belong to the Lord so they are not a part of the true church of our Lord Jesus Christ. BUT BEWARE when you start to blame the church, you may blame the true church of our Lord Jesus Christ; because of that, you may grief our Lord.

But can we say about those who follow after the worldly things such as wealth and political agenda ? They are the lost sheep.

This is what we have heard:
When He went ashore He SAW A GREAT CROWD, and He had COMPASSION ON THEM, because they were LIKE SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD. And He began to TEACH THEM MANY THINGS. -Mark 6:34

It is good to remember that the Lord still has compassion on them, likewise we need to have compassion on them.

To those who fear the Lord, this is what we have heard :
But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. -Malachi 4:2
And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts. -Malachi 4:3

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins" 1 Peter 4:8