Last week, an excellent op-ed piece appeared on USAToday.com by 26-year-old Jonathan Merritt titled “An evangelical’s plea: ‘Love the sinner.’” It’s worth clicking through to read the whole thing. But here are some highlights:

Most people know Jesus was amazingly compassionate toward marginalized sinners. Prostitutes, drunks and, worst of all, tax collectors they were some of Jesus’ closest friends. And while the religious aristocracy of Jesus’ day was finding new ways to express sin-hate, Jesus was busy loving every sinner he could find.

The contrast between 21st century Christianity and the Jesus of the Bible is stark. This Jesus the compassionate, loving, “friend of sinners” is difficult to reconcile with an often disconnected, insular, us-vs.-them Christianity.

…

The most robust description of love in all of Scripture comes from 1 Corinthians 13, which says, “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.” If Christians’ language were marked by these characteristics humility, kindness and grace it would ease tensions and open up avenues for dialogue. It is time for evangelical Christians to reform our rhetoric.

…

And it doesn’t end with dialogue. Let us not forget that love is not only a noun, but also a verb. Love is an action. Our assertions that we love our neighbors must be accompanied by visible expressions of that love. Therefore, we need to begin looking for ways to affirm, rather than undermine, our claims to love our gay neighbors.

…

Now is the time for those who bear the name of Jesus Christ to stop merely talking about love and start showing love to our gay and lesbian neighbors. It must be concrete and tangible. It must move beyond cheap rhetoric. We cannot pick and choose which neighbors we will love. We must love them all.

I found the article to be refreshing and right on the nose.  And it has me thinking…

What are some things that I can be doing, as a follower of Jesus, to love my neighbors who are gay?  Anyone want to help me answer that? (Scroll on down to leave a comment…)