All We Need Is Love

Have you ever noticed how complicated we’ve made our faith? The do’s and don’ts lists have become so long that they are virtually impossible to keep up with. What’s worse is there is hardly a trace of Love in any of the rules…well, maybe not so much in the rules themselves but how they are policed. An easy example would be tattoos. Some people believe whole-heartedly that tattoos are evil and wrong. Now love has little to do with views like this. What I mean is it’s hard to say that by forming an opinion like this they are either not loving or loving. However, where love comes into play is how we pass our “conviction” onto others. Is it loving to condemn those with tattoos? When we start playing this game we become much like the parable found in Matt. 18:21-35. We are loved fully by God yet we have such difficulty accepting and loving others as completely as God loves and accepts us.

Have you ever read 2 Samuel 9? It’s only 13 verses but in you find one of the coolest stories about love. Back in the day of David (and still today in some regions) it was normal for a new King to wipe out anyone involved and/or related to the past King. It prevented any anarchy and the possibility of them coming back with numbers and over ruling the new King. In this story however you find quite the opposite. I’m not going to tell you the story (you should read it) but I will say this about this story. We are both of the main characters in it. We are first Mephibosheth: broken and rejected yet received in grace, kindness and love by the King, our Father, God. We are also called to be David: the one that reaches down and shows mercy, kindness and love. Read the story, it’s actually pretty amazing.

Have you ever joined a gym? I have. I bought the gym membership and unfortunately the point of the membership isn’t getting in shape (i.e. the membership itself didn’t give me greater cardiovascular ability and ripped muscles – that’s natural for me). The point is to workout. The perk of working out however is getting in shape. What’s the point of Christianity? Is it to get to Heaven? I don’t believe that is the point. I believe that Heaven is the perk of being a Christian. The point is to follow Christ (be Christ like). And in a nutshell, that’s to love. We are called to be people that are known by our love.

I always perk up when I read a commandment Jesus says. In John 13:34-35 Jesus gives us a new commandment (as opposed to the old, if I gave you a new car would you still drive your old one?). He tells us to love one another as He has loved us (well we find out soon that He in His love is willing to die for us, that’s pretty committed love that we are called to emulate). He goes on to say that is how others will know we are Christians. Amazing hey? It’s not what we do, or believe that people recognize our faith. It’s how we love that sets us apart.

In Matthew 12 Jesus is challenged and asked what the two most important commandments are. Guess what? They are both love centered. Love God, and LOVE others as yourself. It seems to me Jesus believed the point of Christianity was to Love. How are you doing in the love department? Do you love only certain people? Do you love only when it’s convenient for you? Or when you’re in the mood? Do you love the people you shouldn’t love on paper (Matt. 5:44)?

Imagine going to a church filled with people just trying to love. People not concerned about your “tattoos”, but people just trying to live out their faith and loving others completely. The kingdom of God is one big family. I know my brothers, and even my parents and extended family, all have different opinions. But as a family, relationships come first. We choose to love each other in spite of our differences and views. See love brings unity. And unity brings passion. I think that’s why Jesus gives us the commandment to love one another. Because it’s not only that in love WE grow, but in Love we allow others to grow.

See I’ve learnt a few things over the years. It’s not our viewpoint on Homosexuality that will get us to Heaven. It’s how we treat them that will. It’s not our opinions on people or their sins that get us to Heaven. It’s how we treat them. Friends Love is what matters. All we need is LOVE!! (The Beatles had a lot of things right).

Evan Drisner wears many hats. As a local Business Leader in his community, an Ordained Minister with the PAOC, Music Director at his Church, Father to two young boys and Husband to an amazing wife his life is in constant motion. He has a passion for music (Pearl Jam and the Beatles), his family, the lake and people in general.

©2010 Used by Permission. Excerpt taken from http://mypresenttense.wordpress.com/