The Bible says God is love. A profound
statement indeed, not just a description but one of being, one of
ontology. So it would be fair to say that love is of God from a biblical
standpoint. It would have to transcend people, be eternal, divine, Of
infinite value, sacred not contingent upon humans for its existence. If it
is dependent upon people for its existence it wouldn't be love per se, but just
a chemical reaction of our brains, so who is to say it's good or bad? if it
feels good it must be good, so a man can be in love with something that's bad
for him, because his chemicals in his brain are making him in love with it, and
you couldn't say it's wrong could you?
The Bible also shows Jesus giving a
commandment, and this commandment has a purpose not for the Christians sake,
but so that Jesus' purpose would be made obvious.
John 13:34 "A new
commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you,
that you also love one another.
John 13:35 "By this all
men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
Jesus is saying that ALL MEN, meaning everyone will know who are His Disciples, those who are followers of Him, but only if they have love for each other. It should be a way that people who are not Christians would be able to tell who are Christians by the way they are with each other according to Jesus. Love of a Christian toward their fellow brothers and sisters should be the adornment of recognition, not their status, their manner of dress, or their fine education, but plain and simply that ever elusive trait we call love.
This love should be the constant
outward action of those in Christ towards fellow believers. (1Jn 2:10) The
one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for
stumbling in him. Christians are called slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:18) slaves in early Israel had their ears
bored open with an awl by their master so they were marked to show they
belonged to a master and that they would serve him forever (Exodus 21:6). This
ceremony was before the judges and performed by the master only, it was a sign
that the slaves ears were opened to listen to and obey the commandments of the
master. As such, love is the mark of a Christian, it shows that their hearts
have been made open to love those who are deemed unlovable (like an enemy) it also
signifies their Master is Christ and they will serve him forever.
In his Exposition of the Entire Bible
John Gill (1697 - 1771) notes in John;
"Tertullian (Apolog. c.
39) says the very Heathens did in his time; who would say, when they saw
the Christians pass along the streets, and meet and express their affection to
each other, "see how they love one another": would to God the same
was as observable now."
As then so it is now in our time, would
to God the same was as observable now. But what can we expect when we see
passages like
Philippians 2:3....but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
Do we see this in church? More
importantly Christian do you see this in yourself?
The early church was marked by their
love for one another. John makes this plain where he equates those who practice
unrighteousness the same as not loving his brother and therefore not of God.
1Jn 4:20 If someone says,
"I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who
does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not
seen.
1Jn 4:21 And this
commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his
brother also.
1Jn 3:10 By this the
children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not
practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.
1Jn 3:11 For this is the
message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one
another;
1Jn 3:12 not as
Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what
reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother's were
righteous.
1Jn 3:13 Do not be
surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.
If we walk in love towards our brothers
and sisters we have assurance that we have passed from death into the eternal
life that Christ has promised to those who are His.
1Jn 3:14 We know that we
have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does
not love abides in death.
1Jn 3:15 Everyone who hates
his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life
abiding in him.
Love was the guiding force that led the
church to be united together in one accord. The book of Acts records
the Selfless deeds of the early church, reaching out to show the love
of God to those around them as well as amongst themselves.
Act 4:32 And the
congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not
one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but
all things were common property to them.
Act 4:34 For there was not a
needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell
them and bring the proceeds of the sales
Act 4:35 and lay them at the
apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.
Love is a powerful force that can drive
a person to commit themselves to acts of selflessness. It is the mark of a true
believer. Have you seen it? Do you recognize it in yourself? Or do you see
it missing, could you compare Christians to Atheists and see no difference
in how each lives their life? Do you even know what this love looks like today?
What do we think this love that a Christian should have towards his fellow
brothers and sisters would look like?
We've all heard that one friend that
one person we all know who says they believe in God but they don't do church.
The reason is as they put it, they don't do organized Religion. As opposed to
what an unorganized religion? Yes it is a cop out, a cheap explanation to
dismiss why they don't do church. But I've found that when pressed on the
matter you often find a reason based in bitterness, or a self glorification
"I think the church is full of hypocrites." They are right of course
but not in the sense that they are somehow morally superior to Christians, but
right in the fact that it's full of people and all people tend to be
hypocritical. Just not everyone is willing to admit that and tarnish their
dream of being a "good person"
The way that our friend uses this term
is an attempt to justify themselves for not attending church. But
when you analyze this message it appeals to a standard outside of itself. A
standard that implies the Christian should be of a better character, a standard
that says the non believer actually expects this of a Christian now as was
remarked by Tertullian in his day. A standard that says I don't see this love
in action therefore I know Christianity isn't true. How many of us have
gone to church expecting a loving welcome to be disappointed later on down the
line when we finally see it's just a Sunday affair. How many of us
have gone to church expecting to be brothers and sisters marked by love and
welcomed into the family to only find it's more like a dysfunctional
family with its insecurities than the love that is of God?
What would this love look like to those
who are expecting to find it at church? Why is this so important?
It is important because
Christians should be as one, just as Jesus and The Father are one, that
they by being as one, would be found in the father and Jesus, but more
importantly it is so that the world would believe that the Father has sent
Jesus.
John 17:21 that they may all
be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also
may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
Php 2:1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,
Php 2:2 make my joy complete
by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent
on one purpose.
Php 2:3 Do nothing from
selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as
more important than yourselves;
Php 2:4 do
not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the
interests of others.
Php 2:5 Have this attitude in
yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
