In June when The Supreme Court ruled on Obergefell v. Hodges, and made same-sex marriage the law of the land, churches across the U.S. prepared to respond to the legal implications. When I heard about the ruling, all I could think about were my friends. Would any of them ask me to officiate their same-sex wedding? I knew I wouldn’t be comfortable officiating. But I needed to think about my answer carefully. If anyone did ask, I wanted them to walk away thinking, “She really loves us.”

Jesus commanded us to be known by our love for one another. In times when our understanding of Scripture has profound relational consequences, it’s important to make sure we are known for our love. Working in an increasingly post-Christian context has provided us with a unique opportunity to obey this challenging command. Here are a few principles I’ve found helpful in loving those who either live outside the Christian ethic or interpret Scripture differently than I do.