Epilogue
I've made my case, so what do you think? In the end, we are left to
wonder what is really true. As liberals, moderates or conservatives in the
early years of a new millennium's horrors and joys, each of us are left
holding a Bible that we’ve invented for our time, as each has done
before us. We have had to do this, for God has been less than clear with
us, offering us instead a freedom that isn’t bound by clarity but the
exploration of the truth that love is even greater than faith or hope—as
the Apostle Paul said:
"Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror.
Later we will see him face to face. We don’t know everything, but then
we will, just as God completely understands us. For now there are faith,
hope, and love. But of these three, the greatest is love. Love should be
your guide" (1 Corinthians 13:12-14:1a, CEV).
Imagine that, God values our ability to love others even over our
ability to believe in "him" (cf., Matthew 25:31-46).
Very simply, "God is love; and anyone who lives a life of love
embraces God, and is embraced by God" (1 John 4:16b, QMB). This isn’t how to "earn" your way to
heaven; rather, God is in the process of teaching everyone this
lesson, for hate will have no place in heaven. If you want to hate, then
you’ve got to wait—as C. S. Lewis said in The Great Divorce,
that even if there is a hell, it is locked from the
inside. Eventually, I believe everyone will find healing in the loving
embrace of their Creator, for to resist LOVE is an act of ignorance, not
true rebellion.
Ultimately, God doesn’t care what your sexual orientation is; rather,
God cares about what kind of person you are. Are you kind, compassionate,
considerate and loving? Work on those kinds of things as you embrace God
with a giant "YES!" and leave your accusers to themselves—they
know almost nothing of this God of love.
Peace and love.
