Yes, He does. Unconditionally.

I have always told myself that I would not post on social media about hot button topics that are going on in society and across the political landscape in our country. But lately there’s been a conviction in my heart regarding the thousands of Syrian refugees that many political leaders in our country want to turn their backs on.

Just so I don’t turn any readers off from my previous sentence, I want to be clear that there is a secular argument for not allowing Syrian refugees that has some merit. My focus in this post is not a secular argument. I will briefly touch on a few points.

As the retired Marine Phil Klay put it, “The Marine hymn claims that Marines are the ‘first to fight for right and freedom and to keep our honor clean.’ You’re not supposed to risk your life just for the physical safety of American citizens. You’re supposed to risk your life for American ideals as well.” Well said.

Also, I want to be clear. I am not saying I believe we should swing the door wide open to the United States and let anyone come in with no vetting… In fact, no one is saying that. The process to check a refugee is a rigorous method that includes 13-steps before anyone even steps foot on US soil. Some of those steps include background cross checking with Homeland Security, the FBI, CIA and international agencies.  This is extremely important.

Okay, that’s the last I’ll speak towards the secular side to this issue. I want to speak to a stance on this issue that runs much deeper to me, and hopefully runs much deeper to you if you’re also a Christian. If you’re not a Christian, please keep reading anyway. I hope and pray that this explanation can give you some insight into what the heart of a Christian is like, filled with God’s love and with the hope of spreading the Good News of the Gospel.

I read an article that was unbelievably eloquent and accurate when articulating the question we, as Christians, should be asking with the possibility of 10,000 Syrian refugees coming to the United States. The question is not “Should we let them in?” The question is, “What is God up to?”

I know many people that have saved up and raised money for two, three, four years or more so they can go on mission trips across the globe. I know people who are currently in the process of raising funds just for the opportunity to travel across the world to love on people and possibly get the chance to share Jesus. Now all of a sudden, with the atrocities and the evil that is taking place in the world, there are 10,000 people who could come directly to us.

Man does evil. God uses it for good. (Genesis 50:20)

What better way to show the love of God, than to show love and compassion to people who may not look like us, think like us, believe like us or people that don’t have the means of repaying us for our kindness and mercy. Because let’s be clear, Jesus doesn’t call us to only love our own people. That’s easy. Everyone does that.

“If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others?” – Jesus in Matthew 5:46-47

By the way, tax collectors in Biblical times were thought of as basically scum of the earth.

Jesus doesn’t call us to love people when it’s easy.

Jesus calls us to love people when it’s hard.

Jesus calls us to love people when they don’t look like us.

Jesus calls us to love people when they don’t believe like us.

Jesus calls us to love people EVEN WHEN WE’RE SCARED.

Hear me on this:

Darkness cannot grow on its own. Darkness only grows when light diminishes. Don’t let fear grow hate. Instead, let your love shine through fear.

I can’t think of a better way to put the love of Jesus on display than to show compassion for people even when they look different, think differently, believe differently and even though our own fear is involved.

In my experience and talking with people from all different walks of life, change occurs through love. People who have been raised Muslim their entire lives are not going to come to Jesus because we quote Bible verses at them from the other side of the world. But there’s a chance that we can stir their hearts by showing them an unconditional compassion and love.

Why should we do that? Because that’s what God did for us first. He loved us unconditionally.

We didn’t believe in Him. We didn’t live for Him. We were selfish and conceited. And despite us turning our backs on God, He died for us and saved us (Romans 5:8).

So let me tell you something that I believe is absolutely true… God loves you.

Whether you are straight laced or rough around the edges… God loves you.

Whether you never take a sip of alcohol in your life or you’re an alcoholic… God loves you.

Whether you are straight or gay… God loves you.

Whether you are a Christian or a Muslim… God loves you.

No matter who you are, what you believe or what you’ve done… God wants your heart.

Please don’t miss this call to share the love of God with people. Because if we do miss this opportunity, we’re not missing the chance to spread the Good News just one time, we’re missing 10,000 times.

If you’re a Christian, I hope you’ll answer the call to love when it’s hard.

If you’re not a Christian, I hope this gives you some insight into the way that Jesus calls us to love people even though we as humans have the unfortunate habit of screwing up perfect love when we try to act it out. If you’re curious about Jesus, ask someone all the questions you have. They may not be able to answer them all, but it’s a start.

But here’s one question you don’t have to ask… Does God love me?

No matter who you are. No matter what you’ve done. No matter what you believe. No matter what part of the world you are from. I know His answer.

Does God love you?

Yes, He does. Unconditionally.

It's Not that Big a Deal

By the time you read this, the Hall of Fame balloting will likely have already been released. Names like Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz will likely have led the pack and deservingly so. Some of the biggest questions remain with names like Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds. Don’t let the title of this blog fool you. As most of you know, I am extremely outspoken about my stance that Clemens, Bonds and all heavy steroid users should be kept out of the Hall of Fame. But as I have continued to think over names like Clemens, Bonds and other standouts in the Steroid Era of baseball, I have come to realize that my approach towards this issue has been misguided… The approaches to most people’s arguments have also been misguided or at least the approaches of many have used improper priorities.

My argument for the longest time has been based on the premise that not only did steroids push athletes to a Hall of Fame level, but these users were master cheaters who have compromised the integrity of the game (or at least the integrity of the game’s records). While I still believe that argument holds true, an argument strictly focusing on baseball misses the true impact of the discussion. That may sound counterintuitive, but stick with me.

Since the beginning of the Steroid Era, a consistent message has been sent: Taking steroids is not that big a deal.

I use passive voice in that statement (“has been sent”) because the message has been sent by several different groups and several different people over the years. When steroids made their uprising in baseball through the 90s, Major League Baseball, coaches and players turned blind eyes to the use of illegal drugs. Let me go ahead and put this out there now… The argument that players should not be punished or held accountable because Major League Baseball did nothing about the rampant use of drugs is completely erroneous.

Let’s say I rob a convenience store with two cops inside. While I take the money, the cops see me but turn the other way. The store owner goes to the police chief and tells him what happened. The police chief does not punish the cops who were in the store. Just because those cops (eye witnesses) are not punished does not mean that I should not be held accountable. I still committed a crime. I still broke the law. This is not an “if a tree falls in the forest with no one around” argument. Wrong is wrong, illegal is illegal regardless of punishment.

Okay, back to the message being sent. The MLB, coaches and players by not speaking out about baseball’s problem during the heart of the steroid era sent a clear and concise message: taking steroids is not that big a deal.

As time went on, baseball started to climb its way back onto the sports map in the United States. Commissioner Bud Selig then started to “crack down” on steroids in baseball. While I applaud Commissioner Selig for starting the conversation on steroids and starting a protocol to punish players, MLB’s drug policy is not enough.

Before we get to the second manner in which the same message is sent, let’s discuss some of the basics of baseball’s drug policy. First offense/positive test is a 50-game suspension. Second offense is a 100-game suspension. I’m going to stop right there. A 50-game suspension is an absolute JOKE. For sake of your time, I won’t go through the details of the monetary benefits to taking steroids. If you want a more in depth look go to my previous blog “Staying Clean” and do a control-F for Melky Cabrera.

My main point? The benefits of taking steroids can and have been up to $12 million a year while the risk is being suspended less than one-third of the season. Not to mention, players can play in the minor leagues while they are suspended on the Major League level for drugs. It’s a joke. The risk is far outweighed by the reward, outweighed by millions of dollars. Players test positive and release calloused statements likely written by their agents or PR specialists. Even some apologies which bring tears to the players’ eyes don’t feel genuine. They apologize to fans then go home and count their millions.

So once again, Major League Baseball, due to its “slap on the wrist” approach to punishing steroid users, and players with their insincere apologies, send the same message: taking steroids is not that big a deal.

And here we are today. A day which is unique. Unique because the power to send a message no longer lays in the hands of Major League Baseball or coaches or players. The power of the message lays in the hands of the baseball writers who vote for the Hall of Fame.

If the writers vote in guys like Bonds and Clemens, the message will remain the same. Taking steroids is not that big a deal. But the writers can change that message that has been sent for over 20 years. They can keep users out of the Hall and tell us that taking steroids IS a big deal.

But in order to understand the impact, we have to take a look at who receives that message. Let me be clear, I’m not worried about the message going to players in the MLB or casual fans or even baseball purists. I’m worried about the message that is received by kids.

If the writers vote in the Bonds and Clemens of the world, our kids will hear a loud and clear message across the board: You can lie, cheat, break the rules, put your body at risk and even be caught doing all of that, but still make millions of dollars, gain fame and then enter into the most prestigious of groups despite not doing what’s right. And the kicker, you’ll never truly be held accountable.

What reason would a high school kid trying to go pro have to NOT take steroids? Or a college kid? Or a minor leaguer who is trying to stay afloat in the ultra-competitive world of professional baseball? For over two decades, kids have not been deterred from taking steroids by any message the MLB has sent. In fact, I would argue that kids have been encouraged to use steroids by the lack of a stance against performance enhancing drugs. Or at least any kind of serious stance.

It’s true that if Bonds and Clemens are not inducted, the greatest players during the Steroid Era will not be in the Hall of Fame. But let’s not act like keeping players out of the Hall erases them from history. People will still talk about those players and the unbelievable numbers they totaled. Their stories are not erased. They are still a part of baseball history, but they don’t have to be in the Hall of Fame.

I write this blog as a young adult who is starting to mature. I write this blog as a young adult who one day wants to have a family. One day I hope I can proudly explain to my son why players who have some of the best numbers in history are not in the Hall of Fame. I can explain that it’s not always about the result. I can explain that at some point, we all will be held accountable for our wrongdoings. I can explain to my son why he shouldn’t take steroids. I hope the writers will allow me to teach my future child that lesson.

But if the writers do induct Bonds and Clemens, my kid can counter with this… “But Dad, look at the money they made and all their accomplishments. I mean, they’re in the Hall of Fame! Look at history. Taking steroids… IT’S NOT THAT BIG A DEAL.”