LOVE. The greatest commandment. Greater than faith and hope. And also the squishiest, most subjective, indefinable concept there is. How can God command “love”? Isn’t it something that has to be freely given?
If it’s really true that Christianity is built on love, we need to grapple with questions like these. We need to examine our assumptions and interrogate our actions.
What follows is not a definition or explanation of love, or an exhaustive list of actions that are and are not loving. Rather, it is a challenge to each of us to see whether we are even in the ballpark of Christlike love.
“Love your neighbor.” Who dat?
In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus sets a high bar for neighbor-love.
Someone asks Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus’ answer, of course, is the parable of the Good Samaritan. He ends the discussion with the words, “Go and do likewise” – i.e. “and that’s how to inherit eternal life.”
The lesson could be summed up like this:
“That guy from the story who practices a different religion from yours – I want you to live like him. Those other guys from the story who practice your religion – they are getting it wrong.”
Are we living with this level of abandon – spending our money to help those in need, regardless of their religious/racial/party affiliation? It is not natural to live this way. It is supernatural. But do we even seek to be this loving? Or do we only shower generosity on those of our own tribe?
It’s easy to feel warm toward members of our tribe – our congregation, denomination, or folks that are like us in other ways. God wants us to also love our enemies (see Matthew 5:43-48). It is safe to assume that a God who knows us in our innermost being would know whether we are genuine in that love, and would expect sincerity. It’s not easy, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.
If we recall that each person is made in God’s image, we can choose to find love within us for anyone.
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What about THEM?
Whether you believe that the homosexual lifestyle is by default sinful, or not: Jesus calls us to love all people as we love ourselves. Not, “love the sinner, hate the sin,” but “love the fellow human being, period” (I have written elsewhere about the whole issue of the alleged sinfulness of homosexuality – take your pick).
The slogan “love is love is love” refers to the idea that the love of anyone toward anyone else, regardless of sexual orientation, is a beautiful thing. As Christians, we can also repeat the slogan to ourselves to recall that our love toward all people should be the same, not based on their orientation or life choices.
1st Corinthians 13
Take a moment to ponder each of these statements from Paul. Ask yourself – for each one – “do I live this way toward all people?” It’s important to take our time here. Most of us don’t pause, before we speak or act, and check ourselves: “would this comment or action be the loving way to behave in this moment?” Which of these nuggets from 1st Corinthians 13 challenges you the most?
Love is patient and kind
Love does not envy
Love is not proud, boastful, or self-seeking
Love does not dishonor others or hold a grudge
Love is not easily angered
Love delights in truth, not in evil
Love always protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres
Love surpasses faith and hope
LOVE NEVER FAILS
Love is clearly not a touchy-feely emotion but a powerful way of life that doesn’t happen by accident. It requires daily commitment and hard choices.
This picture that Paul paints sounds idealistic – and it is. It is the ideal toward which we should all strive. If each Christian desires to be more loving, and manages through God’s help to grow just 10% more loving toward all people, the world will be a better place. How to do that will look different for each of us, and it won’t be easy.
But it is vitally important, and it never fails.
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