God Wants You

I recently watched a video that broke my heart. On the video was a lady who had left the church and embraced atheism because she was disillusioned and disheartened by what her church leaders were teaching about the Gospel. They taught hatred and racism, insisting that Christians must hate people who are different—homosexuals, immigrants, Muslims, etc.—because, they said, God hates such people. They taught that money and prosperity were God’s reward for those of whom God approves. They told her that she must “submit” to her abusive husband, and that women are not permitted to lead or teach men—even young men. When she finally realized that this was not a life she could tolerate any more, she left the church—and she left God, too.

I believe God weeps over people like her and stories like hers. This lady was misled by her leaders, who should have been teaching her what Jesus taught—loving God above all else and loving other people, even our “enemies,” as much as we love ourselves.

Let’s be clear: God doesn’t hate anyone. Perhaps the most famous verse in the Bible tells us that “God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”[1] Think about that. God loves people, all people, so much that he allowed his Son to sacrifice himself in a most painful and humiliating way. That means God loves everyone, even people others might say are unlovable. God loves them, too—including me, and including you.

But what about people who are doing evil? God hates them, doesn’t he? No, absolutely not. As Paul points out, when Jesus died for us we were all still sinners:

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous person; though perhaps for the good person someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.[2]

Imagine what that means. We were sinners, rebels against God, doing evil, doing the very things he hates. In other words, we were God’s enemies—and yet Jesus died to win us back to God. Jesus said there is no greater love than to die for others.[3] That is how much God and Jesus want every one of us to return to him—to turn away from our evil and self-centered ways, and to turn back to God.[4] Every one of us. No exceptions. As 2 Peter 3:9 says: “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.” (Emphasis added)

I pray that the lady in that video rediscovers God’s love and returns to him some day, and I hope those who misled her will, too. Because God doesn’t want any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. And if you haven’t already returned to God, then that includes you, too.

[1]. John 3:16

[2]. Romans 5:6-8

[3]. John 15:13

[4]. That is what repentance means—to turn away from evil and to turn back to God.