Where Is The Love?
With the election looming there's a lot of talk about a lot of different things. Some of it seems like... noise. Just noise. But other topics are truly important. One topic that has been front and center is that of abortion. A very important issue and one that is, inexplicably, controversial.
As a christian, as someone who struggled with infertility and, after many years, was blessed to become a mother through embryo adoption - that it is debated whether these precious unborn lives have a right to be - that it is debated whether or not they are even 'lives' at all - is shocking. I don't understand it.
But there is something I DO understand. The blame lies with us, the Church. Oh, we like to proclaim our righteous indignation and outrage for all to hear, but we are quick to hate our brother/sister in Christ. And doesn't that make us guilty of murder as well? "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." I John 3:15.
In the past 10+ years I have observed professing christians treat other christians terribly. And I haven't seen this with just your average pew warmer, but also with pastors, elders, and even famous christian leaders.
- I've seen christian bigshots actively attempt to destroy another christian - publicly shaming them and attempting to cause them to lose their livelihood - because that person disagreed on a particular point of theology.
- I've seen pastors and church leaders run off staff and church members because of their pride.
- I've seen christian businesses behave in immoral and unethical ways towards their customers and employees. While I did not experience this myself after decades working with christian organizations, when I finally moved over to a secular company I was shocked and in awe at how well I was treated. It is a sad commentary on the Church when a secular business treats its people better than one that professes to be christian.
It has led me to the conclusion that, for all our talk of grace, often it is the unbeliever, rather than the christian, who is more practiced at extending grace to others. If we have a disagreement with another - especially another believer - should we not address it with them in private? Shouldn't the purpose be to restore fellowship between believers? Rather than to destroy a fellow christian? (Matthew 18:15-20)
When a christian leader attacks another in a public way (articles, social media, podcasts, etc...) with the aim of causing harm to this brother/sister, that is not working to restore. Rather, it creates more division in the body. And what about the collateral damage? What of this brother/sister's family? Children? If this person loses their livelihood then that family is in danger. And is not the family already under enough attack as it is? Must our christian leaders do the devil's work for him?!
Here are some things I know to be absolutely true:
- God is love. "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." I John 4:8
- We are created in the image of God. "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." Genesis 1:27
- We are commanded to love God first and our brother second. "For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'you shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" Galatians 5:14
- The world will know us by how we treat each other. "By this all people will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35
We cannot ask the world to love the unborn, to see them as created in the image of God when we are incapable of loving the brother/sister in christ we see in church every week. The world sees us simultaneously crying for the unborn while we wage war against each other. And they are calling us on our hypocrisy.
We cannot ask a fallen, secular society to consider an inconveniently-timed fetus above their own desires and plans, when we are not willing to consider the life and well-being of a fellow christian above our own desires and pride. The Church has gotten very good at talking about love and grace, but has forgotten how to live it.
And, as with most things, it starts at home. If we want to earn the right to be heard when we talk about the sanctity of life and about the value of protecting the lives of unborn babies, we have to start loving our brothers and sisters in Christ. We have to love the body of Christ in spite of differences, annoyances, and theological disagreements.
Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship our spirit finds
Is like to that above.
Before our Father’s throne,
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one—
Our comforts and our cares.
We share our mutual woes;
Our mutual burdens bear;
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear.
When we asunder part,
It gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart,
And hope to meet again.
From sorrow, toil, and pain,
And sin we shall be free;
And perfect love and oneness reign
Through all eternity.
~ John Fawcett (1740-1817)
