Thursday, 12 November 2009
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Everything Comes Down To Love
There are two extremes in christianity. One is the side that says that all of christianity is about love, and the other side, although claiming to love people, hates anyone who doesn't bend to their every standard and rule. I'd like to think of myself as somewhere in the middle, but if I were to lean to one side, which I do, it is the side that is all about love.
What people seem to be missing is the trinity, the three in one, God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost. Each have a different role to play, yet each one is part of the big picture that many seem to be missing. Christianity involves love, death, life, eternity, war, peace, prosperity, poverty, judgment, forgivness and many other things, but the human part of the whole picture is confined to one fraction of the universal picture.
God is the judge of all things, he makes it clear that vengeance is His and promises to repay those who deserve repercussions. Jesus is the example for the humans. He was the one aspect of God that became a human and was tempted in all the ways a human is tempted. He is the aspect of the trinity that applies directly to us and He is the one we should be mirroring our lives after. God can bring wars upon countries and judge those who have done wrong, because he is just in every way, but as humans, that is not our job. Jesus, as the human example of God, showed only love and compassion while He was here on the earth. Even in the few instances where Jesus rebuked people, it was never in a malicious or antagonistic way, he had a true love for people, no matter what they had done or were doing.
In a world that is getting colder and more cruel every day, as we watch people kill each other in senseless violence, children starving for food, while rich men do nothing, and countries rise up against each other, what truly shines brightest is love. Many people think harsh brutality, and snide remarks will get people to come to church, but what really shines as a beacon through the darkness is the one thing that the world lacks the most of. Love is the one thing that is different, and therefore stands out as something to take notice of, in this dark place we live.
So if I were to be asked if christianity was all about love, I would say no it is not, but the human aspect of it is. God can judge people according to His plan, but the human race was never given the right to judge each other. We were only commanded two things. Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself.
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Comments (38)
nice post
I love the layout, too!
This is so meaningful, and so true. Thanks for sharing! It's easy for Christians to become self-righteous. This also made me think about the fact that when God says "Love your neighbor as yourself," Christians often look around and point to their neighbors: their family, their friends, people at church, people they are close too, people they have connections with, people they like -- but we, as Christians, forget that "our neighbors" means ALL human beings: the people we don't know, strangers, people that *gasp* are not always nice to us personally, people who have made mistakes, people who do not always act respectfully, people who are not in our immediate circle of interaction, people who hurt us, people who betray us, and the list goes on.
Your post reminds me of the quotes "The opposite of injustice is not justice, but love."
Good post.
I would go even more extreme. I do believe that it is all about love. Not the saccharine love that people think they want, but real love. God IS love, and He can't do anything outside that. So I believe it's all about love.
The problem comes when people think "love" means permission to do anything, no consequences, or a lot of other things it doesn't mean.
Again, excellent job on this.
@Pickwick12 - I should have talked more about that. Even when God is judging someone it is all out of love for that individual. Good points.
@Simbathe2nd - Great topic.
Awesome post. Have you read The Shack? It's an amazing read that really delves into the Holy Trinity, God's forgiveness, and most importantly, His love for us. I highly recommend it to anyone, a believer or not.
@Ampersands_Anonymous - I have actually and I thought, aside from all the controversy it has inspired, it was an amazing book.
I agree. Love is the one thing that is not easily shown among humans; especially today. It is definitely the best way to reach people, and Jesus did use that in His example to us.
I know someone mentioned God is love, but what about the aspect of His holiness? That is why He is able to judge and do so fairly as well as love and do so unconditionally (and many other things about His character). I think if we picture Him as a holy God, everything else about Him makes sense. Just looking at Him as 'love' makes his judgement hard to understand. At least, that's what I think about. I agree with you on the picture of love from the human aspect. Nice post. ;0)
@ccarothers - Yeah I see what you're saying. I think love is part of holiness.
Very true!
Isn't it sad that such a key part of the Christian life (and clearly stated as such in Scripture) is one of the most absent aspects seen today? God calls us to love above all else, and yet Christians are viewed as some of the most un-loving people in U.S. society today. Love is often overlooked, difficult, and yet crucial to our relationships, testimony, and ministry. Thanks for reminding us of its importance :)
@webofsimplicity - I see it overlooked in christianity in my life and the christians around me. I think it's something that the whole world could learn.
I wish more Christians stressed love, its one thing that I see so little of. So many have no compassion for others. Thank you for sharing this.
@WifeOfAGayHusband - I agree. It's one thing that makes a person stand out and make a difference in the world.
I think you left out the Holy Spirit.
:)
And yes, the human aspect of the three ...you're supposed to love. And many Jews would argue that Torah is love.
We seem to be so caught up in our own little worlds that we forget about other people who need to be loved. If all people see is Christians loathing others who don't agree wholly with them they will simply be pushed away.
Of course, we should admonish friends when they do the wrong thing, but in a spirit of love because we want them to do what's right. We shouldn't gossip about it or shun them. Unless they won't listen to advice and continually disregard God's Word, but that's another story.
@Simbathe2nd - I would strongly recommend you to read Works of Love by Soren Kierkegaard for a further investigation on this topic of Love and, in particular, Agape.
Even though I don't agree with the Trinity as One, I do agree in the "Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself." A basic virtue to live by. Let us not forget that Christianity is not the only religion that teaches us to love, but also Muslim, Buddhism, etc.
@Pickwick12 - Good response :) I agree completely.
@ELIZerson - Thank you :)
Good Post!! XD
"And of some have compassion, making a difference." Jude 22 I want to make a difference in the lives of people and you can't do that if you have no love for them. Very good post. Thank you.
fantastic post. and thanks for the comment and support :)
I think you've said it all.
I do agree with Levanna in that we all need to rely upon the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us in ALL aspects of our life, and in return for trusting Him and obeying His instruction, we will find the fullness of the power of God made manifest in us by the workings of the Holy Spirit, both in us and through us, as we DO as Jesus commanded us to do; by going out into the world, healing, comforting, giving and saving through the preaching of the truth of the Gospel of Christ Jesus as we go.