They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love

I am an Episcopalian. My faith was best defined by Robin Williams during his 2003 HBO special:

10. No snake handling.

9. You can believe in dinosaurs.

8. Male and female, God created them; male and female, we ordain them.

7. You don’t have to check your brains at the door.

6. Pew aerobics.

5. Church year is color coded!

4. Free wine on Sunday.

3. All of the pageantry, none of the guilt.

2. You don’t have to know how to swim to get baptized.

And the number one reason for being an Episcopalian:

1. No matter what you believe, there’s bound to be at least one other Episcopalian who agrees with you.

In all seriousness, my denomination is making headlines over a vote at our General Convention. The item being considered was a liturgy to bless same sex commitment ceremonies (the rite stopped short of calling it a wedding or marriage outright), which was overwhelmingly approved.
That, in turn, caused the web to blow up.
My gut reaction is:
It's all about love. And, since I am a follower of Christ, I am going to do what He requires us to do in Matthew , chapter 22:
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

It doesn't say love your neighbor except if they are gay. It doesn't specify that you can't love them if they are lesbians. It doesn't specify race, creed, orientation or gender, just for us to love them as yourself. That's it. Not much to read into here-it goes back to that amazing four letter word: love.
I don't want to get into a theological debate as to which kind of love Jesus was referring to-
Eros romantic, sexual love
Philos platonic love
Or my personal favorite
Agape-God's love for His creation
Its not up to you or I to judge how someone is living their lives according to faith. I, myself, am a sinner-as we all
are-and certainly don't need another human being taking on the role of God. In other words, don't judge others because you too will be judged.
In Buddhist tradition, the concept of Metta, or loving kindness, should be practiced at all times. In yoga, the term namaste is the light in me salutes the light in you. In Judaism, love is not an abstract concept; it is an absolute. We are obligated to love creation, because it is an extension of self.
The cliff notes version: we are commanded to love. It is the ideal. There are no exclusions or caveats
It's just love .
However you feel about gay marriage or gay people-or fat people, or those with autism, or people different from you, it's ok to have an opinion. What's not ok is to spread hate. The world is a scary, mean place with enough trials and tribulations-we don't need others making it worse.
Jesus commanded us to love, no matter what.