The LGBT+ and the progressive church in the context of inclusivity and acceptance define ‘affirming’ as ‘to agree and support same-sex behaviour.’

I have yet to find that definition in the Bible. However, Isaiah 5:20 declares a warning to those who call evil good and good evil.

How does the Bible define love?  Does love always require approval?

I hear this argument regularly, that if God is a loving God, I can love who I choose after all love is love.

My main discourse is this, ‘What does love mean’, and who gets to define love?  I believe Jesus is Lord and as such determines the standards.

A broken and lost world shouldn’t define biblical love. It's like asking a blind person for directions (no offence intended to the visually impaired).

To understand the true and biblical definition of love we look to God’s Word.  The definitive, legitimate, moral standard.

As believers – Christians - true followers of Christ we want to follow God’s commands that say, ‘Love your neighbour...(Matt 22:37-39).

The apparent confusion lies in what it means to love.  Do we get to self-interrupt and define love based on feelings, relationships, or culture?  Or is there a biblical standard, created by a moral God for us to follow?

Despite the clarity of Scripture some churches - Christians-whether by ignorance or flat-out rejection believe loving your neighbour supersedes God’s other commandments.  That is a mistake.  Genuine love in its truest form is not lived out by approving everything someone wants to do.  As a parent, we don’t approve of everything our children ask for, because love protects.’  That means standing in the way of things that are going to harm them.  We create a safe space to communicate and provide a welcoming posture not to affirm.

Love for our neighbours cannot ignore or reject God’s moral commands.  The opposite is true, genuine love obeys God’s commands (John 14:15). 2 John 1:6 says, ‘And this is love:  that we walk in obedience to his commands.

’1 John 5:2 states, ‘This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.’ Loving our neighbours starts with loving God and obeying his commands.

Knowing the importance of obeying God’s commands. Do we then affirm and celebrate what the world does? Clearly, the answer is no. Despite the hostility, we chose to love God and obey his commands.

Love does not delight in evil (or wrongdoing) but rejoices with the truth (1 Cor. 13:6). We love our neighbours by keeping God’s commands not rejecting them. We speak the truth in love.

Love that affirms and celebrates sin is not genuine, it's a forgery. To affirm is to violate God’s word.

Love doesn’t compromise truth but rather helps others live in harmony with God, by speaking the truth in love.

The way we discover what genuine love looks like is not to embrace contemporary culture or affirm and celebrate what makes people feel good but by clinging to God and his commands.

Embracing biblical truths is not easy...will it cause conflicts with family, friends and church members...yes. Will you be labelled, cancelled, called intolerant and dismissed...yes.However, God’s commands should always be the standard.

The Bible defines love.

Pride and love cannot co-exist. Love is calling someone out of their sin so they can live in righteousness and truth. My hope is that all people will repent and follow Jesus.