Love One Another

For the past several years, I've been saddened by the amount of hatred that has seemed to become normal. It feels like if there is any topic that can be divided, people take their position, yell at the opposition, and fight to the death. I get so wearied by all the yelling and hate that is being spread around. The thing that saddens me most is that's not the way that Jesus told us to treat others.

In John 13:34-35, Jesus says, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” We get so caught up in taking sides and winning the argument that we lose sight of the fact that we are to show love to those around us. The reason we are to show love to others is so that they can see Jesus. I wonder how many people have decided that they want nothing to do with Christianity because what they see are people filled with anger and hatred instead of seeing the deep love of Jesus. We get so caught up in the issues that we lose sight of the people.

Now love doesn't mean that we have to accept every idea that comes along as true or justify things that are unbiblical. In fact, that's not love either. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 gives the definition of love. "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." Very clearly it states that love doesn't rejoice in wrong, but in truth which means that we need to hold fast to what is true. However, the way in which we interact with people who disagree with us should be patient and kind. We should not be arrogant about our stance or rude to those who are on the other side.

Too often people see it as an either/or instead of a both/and. We can either love people from this political party or that one. We can either love people on this side of the issue or that side. But it shouldn't be that way. Instead we should love those on both sides. Correcting with kindness and patience when the truth is compromised - on both sides - instead of justifying it when it's on 'our' side and vilifying it when it's on 'their' side.

The truth is that love is an indicator of our relationship with Jesus. 1 John 4:8 says, "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." If we are unloving to those around us, it should make us look at whether or not we are truly following Jesus or if we merely have religion. If we are following Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is dwelling within us, then God's love should be seen in our interactions with us - whether in person or online.

Someday God will make all things new. Sin and death will be defeated. Everything will be as it was intended to be. Until then, we are the light of the world, and one of the ways we share God's light is by sharing His love to the world around us.

“Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”