How can love condemn others?
Introduction. Never in my personal life have I witnessed a time when a subject as wonderful as love has been so misunderstood and even perverted. Some use the term as a substitute for physical attraction, sexual lust, and even fornication ("making love"). Some base their love for others on what benefit they get from them. Still others view loving someone as tolerating and supporting them regardless of their sexual orientation, psychological delusions, or sinful personal behavior.
What true love actually is. However, true love according to the scriptures is captured by the Greek word "agape". According to one Bible dictionary, "Christian love has God for its primary object, and expresses itself first of all in implicit obedience to His commandments (John 14: 15, 21; 1 John 5: 3)...love seeks the welfare of all..." (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words).
Love involves pointing out wrong. The apostle Paul enjoins, "But speaking the truth in love..." (Eph. 4: 15). Paul practiced speaking the truth in love. Since love seeks the best for others, when others are wrong they must be told. Hence, Paul rebuked Elymas, "...full of all subtlety and mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?" (Acts 13: 6-10). According to John, "this is the love of God that we keep His commandments..." (1 John 5: 3). God's commandments entail exposing sin and error (Eph. 5: 10-11; cf. Ezek. 3: 18-21).
We are not to officially condemn as a judge. Jesus will be the ultimate judge of all men (2 Cor. 5: 10; Jas. 4: 11-12). However, Christians are commanded to take God's word and apply it to known circumstances (Eph. 5: 11).
Conclusion. In view of the Scriptures, the question should be, how can love not "condemn" sin and wrong doing?
What true love actually is. However, true love according to the scriptures is captured by the Greek word "agape". According to one Bible dictionary, "Christian love has God for its primary object, and expresses itself first of all in implicit obedience to His commandments (John 14: 15, 21; 1 John 5: 3)...love seeks the welfare of all..." (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words).
Love involves pointing out wrong. The apostle Paul enjoins, "But speaking the truth in love..." (Eph. 4: 15). Paul practiced speaking the truth in love. Since love seeks the best for others, when others are wrong they must be told. Hence, Paul rebuked Elymas, "...full of all subtlety and mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?" (Acts 13: 6-10). According to John, "this is the love of God that we keep His commandments..." (1 John 5: 3). God's commandments entail exposing sin and error (Eph. 5: 10-11; cf. Ezek. 3: 18-21).
We are not to officially condemn as a judge. Jesus will be the ultimate judge of all men (2 Cor. 5: 10; Jas. 4: 11-12). However, Christians are commanded to take God's word and apply it to known circumstances (Eph. 5: 11).
Conclusion. In view of the Scriptures, the question should be, how can love not "condemn" sin and wrong doing?