I woke up earlier this week, and I did what most of us do in the mornings; I rolled over and grabbed my phone. As I aimlessly wandered into the kitchen and sat down, I began scrolling through my Facebook news feed, my eyes growing wider as I saw the same Religion News Service interview with Jen Hatmaker pop up over and over again. It broke my heart, not only as I read through the post, but as I scrolled through the comments; most were harsh and ugly, on both sides of the argument. I cringed as I read them, until finally I had to put my phone down. The condemning, the name calling, the hatred… there is just so much division in the body right now, am I right, friends?

The thing about this article and others who share in Jen’s like-mindedness is that they are ultimately pointing in the wrong direction… they are all pointing to the beliefs of Jen and not to the Truth, which is the word of God. And for those of us who aren’t standing behind the teachings and ideas of Jen Hatmaker, this thought should drastically change the way we are proclaiming God’s Truth; because truth and love can and must be shared at the same time (Ephesians 4:15). And it’s something that we can’t be divided on any longer, friends.

Here is the thing, I’m not sure where you stand reading this post. You could be at a place in your faith where you are trying to figure this whole God thing out. You may be Biblically educated up to your eyeballs. Maybe you see God as a big man with a booming voice, full of acceptance and welcoming anyone who leads a “good and loving” lifestyle. The point is I don’t know your heart and there is no possible way that I could convey mine, except maybe over a cup of coffee around my kitchen table (pie would obviously be included in this conversation). But today that’s not going to do any good for either of us unless we are eating that pie together.

What I want to share with you today is this: God’s Word never changes and neither does His view of any sin. And with that knowledge, we can’t teach love and forget truth. When the Bible was written over 2,000 years ago, it wasn’t written with the idea that generational interpretation was an option. Its truth wasn’t written for us to cherry-pick verses to back up sin when it was convenient and comfortable. When the inspired word of God was written, it was meant to speak in cohesive direction and protection. And like any loving parent would do, He has given us rules and truths to live by to keep us safe, both physically and spiritually. Because when He first created us, He knew that we would need leading.

That’s why He gave us the Bible. There are many things in this day and age that are permissible, but not all of them are beneficial (1 Corinthians 10:23). And no, I’m not just talking about living a homosexual lifestyle and abortion here. I’m talking about lying, gossiping, judging, cheating on your spouse and having a bad attitude. Because whether you agree with it or not, God looks at all of these sins the exact same. (James 2:10-11). And He doesn’t just look at the sin friends, He looks at the whole person, you; the child who He loves so deeply. And I’m not sure if you’ve realized this or not, but we are all dirty, messy sinners. Not one of us is less of a disaster than the other. And we all need the same grace.

That’s where Jesus comes in. Because when God sent Jesus and he died on that cross for all of our sins and when he rose from the dead…. everything changed. That’s when the veil was torn and death was defeated. And ultimately that is where the wrath of God was justified with the sacrifice of His own son; the true picture of truth and love together. And that is why I am standing firm in God’s word, knowing that the two were ordained to be together, because they are both who He is. There cannot be truth without love and there cannot be love without truth. So today I’m choosing loving truth.

For an opposing view on this subject, read For The Love:  Why I Support Jen Hatmaker

So God Made a Mother book by Leslie Means

If you liked this, you'll love our book, SO GOD MADE A MOTHER available now!

Order Now

Check out our new Keepsake Companion Journal that pairs with our So God Made a Mother book!

Order Now
So God Made a Mother's Story Keepsake Journal

Lauren Eberspacher

I'm Lauren and I'm a work-in-progress farmer's wife, coffee addict, follower of Jesus and a recovering perfectionist. When I don't have my three kids attached at my hip, you can find me bringing meals into the fields, dancing in my kitchen, making our house a home, and chatting over a piece of pie with my girl friends. I'm doing my best to live my life intentionally seeking all that God has for me and my family. Follow me at: www.fromblacktoptodirtroad.com From Blacktop to Dirt Road on Facebook laurenspach on Instagram

Your Kids Don’t Need More Things, They Need More You

In: Faith, Kids, Motherhood
Mother and young girl smiling together at home

He reached for my hand and then looked up. His sweet smile and lingering gaze flooded my weary heart with much-needed peace. “Thank you for taking me to the library, Mommy! It’s like we’re on a date! I like it when it’s just the two of us.” We entered the library, hand in hand, and headed toward the LEGO table. As I began gathering books nearby, I was surprised to feel my son’s arms around me. He gave me a quick squeeze and a kiss with an “I love you, Mommy” before returning to his LEGO—three separate times. My typically...

Keep Reading

Mom, Will You Pray With Me?

In: Faith, Motherhood
Little girl praying, profile shot

“Will you pray with me?” This is a question I hear daily from my 9-year-old. Her worried heart at times grips her, making it difficult for her to fall asleep or nervous to try something new. Her first instinct is to pray with Mom. Perhaps this is because of how many times her Dad and I have told her that God is with her, that she is never alone, and that she can always come to Him in prayer and He will answer. Perhaps it is because she has seen her Dad and I lean on the Lord in times...

Keep Reading

My Aunt Is the Woman I Want to Become

In: Faith, Living
Woman with older woman smiling

It’s something she may not hear enough, but my aunt is truly amazing. Anyone who knows her recognizes her as one-of-a-kind in the best way possible. It’s not just her playful jokes that bring a smile to my face, her soul is genuinely the sweetest I know. I hope she knows that I see her, appreciate her, and acknowledge all the effort she puts in every day, wholeheartedly giving of herself to everyone around her. When I look back on my childhood, I see my aunt as a really important part of it. We have shared so much time together,...

Keep Reading

A Big Family Can Mean Big Feelings

In: Faith, Kids, Motherhood
Family with many kids holding hands on beach

I’m a mother of six. Some are biological, and some are adopted. I homeschool most of them. I’m a “trauma momma” with my own mental health struggles. My husband and I together are raising children who have their own mental illnesses and special needs. Not all of them, but many of them. I battle thoughts of anxiety and OCD daily. I exercise, eat decently, take meds and supplements, yet I still have to go to battle. The new year has started slow and steady. Our younger kids who are going to public school are doing great in their classes and...

Keep Reading

Motherhood Never Stops, and Neither Does My God

In: Faith, Motherhood
Daughter kisses mother on cheek

I’m standing in the shower rinsing the conditioner out of my hair with a toddler babbling at my feet, running through this week’s dinner menu in my head. “Hmm, this meal would be better suited for this day, so what should we do instead?” or “Maybe we should save that for next week since it’s easy and we will be busy with baseball starting back up. I can work something in that may take more effort in its place.” Being a wife and mother, running a household, it’s about the small moments like this. There’s something about it that is...

Keep Reading

So God Made a Sunday School Teacher

In: Faith, Living
Woman sitting at table surrounded by kids in Sunday school class, color photo

God looked around at all He had created, and He knew He would need someone to teach His children. So God made a Sunday school teacher. God knew He needed someone with a heart and desire to teach children God’s word. God knew the children would act up and made Sunday school teachers with patience and grace to guide them when they step out of line in class. He also made Sunday school teachers with a touch of discretion to know when the stories of a child may be real or imagined. God knew this person would need to be...

Keep Reading

But God, I Can’t Forgive That

In: Faith, Marriage
Woman holding arms and walking by water

Surrender is scary. Giving in feels like defeat. Even when I know it’s the right thing, yielding everything to God is scary. It also feels impossible. The weight of all I’m thinking and feeling is just so dang big and ugly. Do you know what I mean? Sometimes I cling so tightly to my fear I don’t even recognize it for what it is. Bondage. Oppression. Lack of trust. Oh, and then there’s that other thing—pride. Pride keeps me from seeing straight, and it twists all of my perceptions. It makes asking for help so difficult that I forget that...

Keep Reading

Dear Dad, I Pray for Our Healing

In: Faith, Grief, Grown Children
Back shot of woman on bench alone

You are on my mind today. But that’s not unusual. It’s crazy how after 13 years, it doesn’t feel that long since I last saw you. It’s also crazy that I spend far less time thinking about that final day and how awful it was and spend the majority of the time replaying the good memories from all the years before it. But even in the comfort of remembering, I know I made the right decision. Even now, 13 years later, the mix of happy times with the most confusing and painful moments leaves me grasping for answers I have...

Keep Reading

God Redeemed the Broken Parts of My Infertility Story

In: Faith, Grief, Loss, Motherhood
Two young children walking on a path near a pond, color photo

It was a Wednesday morning when I sat around a table with a group of mamas I had just recently met. My youngest daughter slept her morning nap in a carrier across my chest. Those of us in the group who held floppy babies swayed back and forth. The others had children in childcare or enrolled in preschool down the road. We were there to chat, learn, grow, and laugh. We were all mamas. But we were not all the same. I didn’t know one of the mom’s names, but I knew I wanted to get to know her because she...

Keep Reading

God Has You

In: Faith, Motherhood
Woman hugging herself while looking to the side

Holding tight to the cold, sterile rail of the narrow, rollaway ER bed, I hovered helplessly over my oldest daughter. My anxious eyes bounced from her now steadying breaths to the varying lines and tones of the monitor overhead. Audible reminders of her life that may have just been spared. For 14 years, we’d been told anaphylaxis was possible if she ingested peanuts. But it wasn’t until this recent late autumn evening we would experience the fear and frenzy of our apparent new reality. My frantic heart hadn’t stopped racing from the very moment she struggled to catch a breath....

Keep Reading