Why is it that the Church is known more for what we’re against than what we’re for? We’re against abortion. We’re against homosexuality. We’re against divorce. We’re against Democrats. We’re against Republicans. Half of the time, we’re against other churches!

The convicting thing is that when you study the life of Jesus, he was most often for things. He was for the woman who had been married and divorced five times. He was for little children who wanted to sit in his lap. He was for the diseased who had been outcast from society. He was for the poor, the blind, the crippled, the downtrodden.

Jesus said, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:35) We’re supposed to be known for our love! My grandmother used to say, “You know you catch a lot more flies with honey than with vinegar.” The Church will have a lot more influence by what we’re for than what we’re against.

Now, don’t get me wrong, there are times when, like Jesus, we have to take a strong stand against sin and injustice in the world. But, when we’re known for our love, those stands that we need to take will have much greater impact than when we’re always on the defensive.

James said it this way, “Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time.” (James 2:13 MSG)