In 1993 the artist Hallaway released the song “What is love”. At first this may seem like a silly question, but I believe it is something that every Christian needs to ask.
The Bible says “God is love.” this is an often repeated phrase, but many do not understand it’s meaning. That phrase comes at the end of a longer verse, here it is in context:
1 John 4:8 NRSVUE -
“Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
We see here that it is a very serious mistake not to show love! It is written that whoever does not love does not know God, because all saints, those that know God, are called to obey him in all we do.
Ephesians 5:1-2 NRSVUE -
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
So we clearly see one answer to the question “What is love?”, we might answer “God is love.” and we would be correct. “How did God show that he is love?” we would answer “Through the offering and sacrifice of his Son Jesus Christ, who died on the cross and rose again on the third day to redeem all who believe in him and save us from our sins.”
John 3:14-18 NRSVUE -
“And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned, but those who do not believe are condemned already because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
Romans 10:5-13 NRSVUE -
“Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that ‘the person who does these things will live by them.’ But the righteousness that comes from faith says, ‘Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven?” (that is, to bring Christ down) ‘or “Who will descend into the abyss?”’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim), because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart, leading to righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, leading to salvation. The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
We’re getting a clearer view of what love is, and we’ll dive deeper into it shortly, but first I’d like to direct your minds to the question “Who should we love?” Here’s what the Bible says:
Matthew 22:36-40 NRSVUE -
“‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind”’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.’”
Luke 10:29-37 NRSVUE -
“But wanting to vindicate himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and took off, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came upon him, and when he saw him he was moved with compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, treating them with oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him, and when I come back I will repay you whatever more you spend.” Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’”
Jesus makes it clear that we should be “neighborly” to any we meet who are in need of assistance. The assistance they are in need of may be physical, emotional, or spiritual, and I believe we are tasked to be prepared to help them with any and all of those things.
The parable of the Good Samaritan shows loving your neighbor in the physical sense, but we may not always know how to help. I think these next verses can help us see better how to love our neighbor.
1 Corinthians 13 NRSVUE -
“If I speak in the tongues of humans and of angels but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions and if I hand over my body so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part, but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see only a reflection, as in a mirror, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love remain, these three, and the greatest of these is love.”
Many are quick to read this chapter and claim they follow its teachings but the next thing out of their mouth is “Don’t forget about truth! We must speak the truth! In love” quoting this verse:
Ephesians 4:15 NRSVUE -
“but speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,”
I would give this warning though, I am of the opinion that it is incredibly easy to intend to speak lovingly but not take the other person’s perspective into consideration. Before you impart “the truth in love” think to yourself “how will this person receive this message?”
I would say that when Paul says “Love… does not insist on it’s own way” that includes what we view to be the “truth”. Sharing your beliefs is not wrong, however when met with opposition if we do not stop sharing in that moment is that not insisting on our own way? And what did Paul mean by “Love… believes all things?” I have been taught this means “Love gives each person the benefit of the doubt” meaning that we don’t expect the worst of people. However I believe it is possible there is another meaning. A teaching to keep an open mind and receive the perspective of others gladly. That seems to me to be a more literal reading of the text.
We are also exhorted to love even our enemies!
Matthew 5:43-48 NRSVUE -
“‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Jesus says that loving everyone, even our enemies, is how we can be perfect as the Father is perfect. And Peter tells us:
1 Peter 4:8 NRSVUE -
“Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.”
We are also called not to judge:
Matthew 7:1-3 NRSVUE -
“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For the judgment you give will be the judgment you get, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye but do not notice the log in your own eye?”
And Jesus says even he himself does not judge!
John 8:14-16 NRSVUE -
“You judge by human standards; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is valid, for it is not I alone who judge but I and the Father who sent me.”
With these things in mind I recommend taking extra care when bringing anyone’s attention to what we see as a flaw in their lifestyle. You can never go wrong with praying that God will lead you in your speech. Perhaps add to your prayers “God do you want me to say this?”
I leave you with this verse:
Ephesians 5:10 NRSVUE -
“Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord”
May God lead you, and bless you. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.