Love God, Love Your Neighbor

In today’s world, we’re constantly navigating a sea of worldviews—some that align with our Christian faith, and many that don’t. Whether you’re in high school, a university setting, a workplace, or just scrolling online, you’ve likely felt the pressure. As believers, how do we stand firm in God’s truth without becoming hardened or hostile? How do we love people while also holding to convictions that might be radically different from theirs?

This conversation came up in a recent episode of our Diving Deeper series with Pastor William, and wow—it really stirred something deep in us. The truth is, we are living in a world where the foundational beliefs of Christianity are often not only misunderstood, but also outright rejected. And yet, we’re still called to love. To forgive. To walk in truth. To be a witness.

Truth Isn’t Just an Opinion

One of the first points we touched on was this: truth isn’t subjective. The world will tell you, “That’s your truth. This is mine.” But if truth is real, it can’t be both true and untrue at the same time. And we believe God’s Word is truth. Unchanging. Unshakable.

That can be really hard when your convictions come under fire. As Adam and I experienced when we took a public stance regarding transgender participation in women’s professional surfing, the backlash was fierce. Not because we were trying to be hateful or exclusionary, but because we were standing on what God’s Word says. We weren’t attacking anyone—we were simply choosing to live by the truth we believe in. And yet, people were angry.

But Jesus warned us this would happen. In John 15:18-19 (ESV), He said:

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world… the world hates you.”

Love Requires Telling the Truth

One of the most loving things we can do is gently and humbly speak the truth—even when it’s hard to hear. Pastor William shared a great example: when your child runs toward a busy street, you don’t stay silent because you don’t want to hurt their feelings. You yell, “STOP!” You protect them. Love warns. Love cares enough to say, “That path leads to hurt.”

This doesn’t mean we go around pointing fingers or acting like we’re better than anyone else. Quite the opposite. We’re all broken. We’re all sinners in need of God’s mercy. The difference is that we’ve recognized the truth, and now we’re called to walk in it—and invite others into it, too.

Romans 1:25 (ESV) says:

“They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.”
Our culture is full of lies about identity, sexuality, and self. And yet, the God who created us also redeems us. The gospel is not about condemnation—it’s about salvation.

We’re Not Called to Retaliate

This part really hit home for me. When people lash out at you for your faith, it’s tempting to fight back, to defend yourself, to prove your point. But Jesus didn’t do that. He didn’t retaliate when He was mocked, misunderstood, or crucified. Instead, He forgave.

In Matthew 5:11-12 (ESV), Jesus says:

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account… Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.”

That’s our model. We keep confessing the truth, in love, no matter the cost. We don’t compromise our convictions, but we also don’t stop praying for those who oppose us. We want them to know the same mercy that saved us.

Encouragement for the Journey

To the student in a public school, to the surfer on the pro tour, to the mom, dad, or coworker quietly living out their faith in a place where it's not welcomed—don’t give up. Stay rooted in community. Surround yourself with believers who will remind you of the gospel and pray with you through the tough stuff. You’re not alone.

And remember: we don’t stand for truth to “win” an argument. We stand because we love God, and we love our neighbor enough to share what leads to life—not destruction.

Two Major Takeaways:

1. Standing in Truth Requires Love, Not Retaliation
   God calls us to live by His truth and to share it in love—even when the world pushes back. Our witness is most powerful when it’s paired with humility, patience, and grace.

2. Community and Vocation Matter
   We are each called to live faithfully in our unique settings—whether as students, professionals, parents, or friends. Our role isn’t always to be loud, but to be faithful, supported by a loving community and empowered by God’s Word.

Check out the whole conversation on our podcast!

Let’s keep walking this road together—bold in truth, soft in heart, and steady in faith. We’re not promised ease, but we are promised God’s presence. And that’s more than enough. 💛