The Very Opposite of Love

The Golden Rule. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” These words are a summary of the Second Table of the Law and God’s will for His people. Though we cannot fulfill these words as God demands, Christ fulfills them for us and gives us His perfect righteousness as a free gift in Word and Sacrament.

Sadly, many in our culture twist these words and pervert their true meaning. Loving your neighbor does not entail tolerating his sin or accepting his ungodly lifestyle. That is the very opposite of love.

Yet, President Obama would have us believe that the Golden Rule is the foundation for his recent announcement that he thinks same-sex couples should be able to get married:

“This is something that, you know, [Michelle and I have] talked about over the years and she, you know, she feels the same way, she feels the same way that I do. And that is that, in the end the values that I care most deeply about and she cares most deeply about is how we treat other people and, you know, I, you know, we are both practicing Christians and obviously this position may be considered to put us at odds with the views of others but, you know, when we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrificing himself on our behalf, but it’s also the Golden Rule, you know, treat others the way you would want to be treated…”

When the adulterous woman is brought to Jesus, what does He do and say? First, He forgives her. “Neither do I condemn you.” Then, He reminds her what the life of faith (i.e. living in Christ’s forgiveness) entails: “Go, and from now on sin no more.” Not “keep on committing adultery” but “sin no more.” Love does not tolerate or accept sin. On the contrary. It points others to Jesus Christ—His love, His forgiveness, His life, His salvation—where the Old Adam (the sinful nature) is drowned and dies and the New Man (Christ in us) emerges and arises to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Sorry, Mr. President. Tolerating and accepting sin is the very opposite of love. Instead, urge those caught up in this sinful lifestyle to repent and look to Christ for full and free forgiveness. In Him is perfect love. And isn’t that what this country so desperately needs to hear?!