We Should Do No Less

John 13:35

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

We know certain things about people by the way they dress. A cop, a jockey, football player, a doctor, even a fireman. What we do not know about people by the way they dress is if they are a Believer.

“How much harm has been done to the church and to the cause of Jesus Christ because Christians have placed other considerations alongside or above the command to love as God loves? In the name of truth, Christians in the past have sometimes destroyed people, even physically torturing and murdering them. In the name of holiness, Christians have often pushed away and shamed those who don’t meet their standard, creating their own little holiness club to which struggling sinners need not apply. And in the name of correct biblical doctrine, Christians have frequently destroyed the unity of the body of Christ, refusing to minister or worship together because of doctrinal differences, sometimes viciously attacking those who disagree with them.”

“The unsurpassable worth of the person who doesn’t share our truth, doesn’t meet our definition of holiness, or doesn’t agree with our “correct biblical doctrine” has all too often been neglected or denied. Which means that in such cases the truth, holiness, or correct doctrine we have defended was altogether worthless- clashing cymbals, resounding gongs, religious noise- nothing more. Such noise tarnishes the reputation–the glory–of God. It also explains why the church generally has been known for many things other than love and many things that contradict love.”
Greg Boyd

After many years of being part of this crowd, and realizing the hurt I have brought to the cause of Christ because of my lack of love towards others, my heart aches for my lack of love. My attitudes about love said a lot about who Jesus was to me.

Jesus requires that we are known for love. As much of a rebel as He was, what we see in scripture is His love for the unlovely, unkept, outcasts. He went out of His way to share and show that love. We can do no less.

Join me in returning to the Lord. Join me in restoring true love to the Body for others. When it is all said and done, we will not be remembered for our theology but whether or not we loved. It is my desire to be remembered for loving the brethren. Doctrine is needed. Theology is important. But love is what we are to be known for.