Tolerance < Love

The Bible says that they will know we are Christians by our love. So how well are we doing at revealing our identity to those around us? Sadly, when I look around I see a lot of "Christians" who seem to be characterized more by hate than love. We seem to have forgotten the great old saying "love the sinner and hate the sin". Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely not advocating tolerance, besides, tolerance isn't love. Tolerance usually means forgetting about the sin, not hating it. I'm talking about truly loving people where they are, developing relationships, and sharing with them along the way what you believe. Why are you sharing what you believe? Because you genuinely care for them. For many years, evangelism meant going from door to door talking to people about what you believe. There may still be a place for that but for the most part those days are over. Most people today are looking for something more. Something deeper. Something real. They don't want answers from a book (just yet), they want a connection. They want evidence that can only be found in interaction, in seeing the true love of Christ being lived out through those who call themselves the body. As Christians we have bought in too much to the age of reason and we run too quickly to books like The Case for Faith when defending our faith, when the best defense we have is our own lives. So, back to loving the sinner. When we express hate for homosexuals, prostitutes, members of different religions, etc., we are not being Christians. When we are tolerant towards homosexuality, prostitution, different religious beliefs, etc., we are not being Christians. When we are showing the love of Christ through relationships with homosexuals, prostitutes, members of different religions, etc., while hating the things that we believe are keeping them from the life God promised them, that is being a Christian. They will know we are Christians by our love, and so will we.