Luke 17:1–2 Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.

I’ve been thinking about this passage a lot recently. I have seen online posts by people loudly proclaiming, “I’m a pastor!” and then saying things that are in direct opposition to God’s Word. A woman pastor claimed that if Jesus were here today, His beatitudes would include “Blessed are those who end pregnancies (have or administer abortions), for they will be known for their loving kindness.” How does that align with Jeremiah 1:5?

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;”

Another self-identified pastor says she affirms those identifying as a gender other than the way they were born because that is the loving thing to do. What’s next? Affirming pedophiles because “they were born that way?”

This is what happens when you don’t let God be God and put yourself in that position. Don’t be surprised when you are issued a millstone. What you are teaching and proclaiming as “God’s Word” is a far cry from what it actually says. I agree with you that Jesus wants us to love. But never, not even once, did Jesus condone sinful behavior. He never said it was loving to let people remain in their sins. Yes, He died for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8), but He doesn’t want us to stay that way. Instead, He lovingly offered correction and forgiveness, and said, “Go now and leave your life of sin” (John 8:11).

God is love. He offers forgiveness. He wants all people to get it. Jesus earned it for everyone. But there is a catch. You have to believe. You don’t have to earn it, but you must admit your sin, turn from it and toward God, and accept the gift He is giving. He wants us all to “leave your life of sin.”

I pray for those who, under the guise of preaching God’s Word, lead people away from God and His will. I don’t want them to have those millstones. I want them to repent, to turn from their sin, and receive the forgiveness He earned for them.

I want that for all of you. God wants it for you even more.