Sins

1 Peter 4:8 (NASB)

Love covers a multitude of sins.

Christianity is not about sinless perfection but about love. No human being is sinless. Mortal flesh can't keep the standards of a holy God. Even we Christians struggle with sin all the time. For some of us, it may be anger and profanity, while for others, it may be other issues. When atheists and agnostics see us Christians and are aghast at the things we say and do, they are right to feel that way. But what such unregenerated miss is the central core of Christianity, that we are not saved because we are good people, but because we believe the One Who is truly good.

When we compare the lives of the forgiven prostitutes and tax collectors with those of the Pharisees, we would obviously prefer the upright citizens to the social reprobates. But those are the ones that the Lord Jesus purified and blessed, while condemning noblemen and the clergy. Why? Because, like the prostitute who broke a jar of expensive perfume to anoint the Master before His crucifixion, they loved. Do we see that happening today? Outstanding members of the community and world leaders withhold food from the poorest among their own, let alone the hungry masses worldwide. They have no qualms denying food to the alien, non-citizen, and even to their own poor citizens, because they don't have the legal obligation to do so. Such people can profess Christianity but are not Christians. They may be legally correct, but are spiritually flawed.

Christians are ultimately judged by God Almighty for their sacrificial love, not for their sinless piety, which is essential, but not the ultimate test. An adulterous woman who repeatedly fornicates out of bodily lust and loneliness, like the Samaritan woman, but loves with a sincere heart, is more acceptable to the Master than the noble Pharisees who withhold food from the poor and hungry. Why? Because love covers a multitude of sins.