Learning to Love in Lost World 001

It's - personal time -

We hear a lot of non-believers accusing believers of not being very "loving."  I think we would all have to admit that there are some sad examples of not just an unloving attitude but an attitude of outright hatred coming from some folks who claim to be believers.  It's  downright heartbreaking.

But we also have to realize that non-believers do not understand the nature/source of a believers love not do they understand it's limits/priorities.  As leaders, who serve a diverse group of people we have to be very clear as to what we see as a "loving attitude."

First, the love we are to have is not a "passion" although we can be very passionate in our loving.  Our love is both a duty and a gift.  We not only love Him because He first loved us but we are only able to truly love others because of His love.  Apart from His love we can be nothing but lovers of our selves.

Our duty to love is simply based upon His command.  It is what must characterize our service to Him and His - as well as others.  We must desire to glorify Him in every relationship - loving is how we do this.  We choose to live towards others with the understanding, compassion and care with which He provides us.

The danger we face is in allowing the "world" to dictate what godly love is.  God defines love within the context of His holiness.  Anything outside of that is not godly love.  

I keep three things in mind as I work with my clients.
I am to love God.
I am to love my neighbor.
I am to love my enemy.  (That is those who choose to position themselves as enemies toward me - I do not get to be an enemy.)

I use this simple list to keep my priorities clear and my boundaries secure as I live and work among unbelievers.

Loving God can be simply seen as directing "my" life, my efforts to His glory.  I want to reflect Him in all His goodness and holiness.  I want others to see Him as clearly as possible.  Of course, it takes the presence and power of the Spirit for this to happen.

Loving my neighbor can be - well, tricky.  I can not love them as they demand.  I must love them as He commands.  This is a source of friction and difficulty.  Why?  Because love without truth is false.  Truth demands discernment and judgement.  I must have the same "view" of things my God has or else my claim that he is indeed God is a lie.

This puts me at odds with my culture.  Yet I must love those in my culture.  How do I do that????????

We're going to walk through a kind of maze as we move forward.  Loving our neighbor takes clarity in our understanding of the Word, the guidance of the Spirit and of course our being His.   

Leading is difficult but leading a group of individuals with differing world views and beliefs is exponentially difficult.  It is the internal work the "leader" must do under the guidance of the Spirit and within the boundaries of the Word that demands the most.

For those of you who new to this blog you must understand that I am an reformed believer and orthodox in my faith.  I can not know the hearts of men in the specifics but I do know the effects of the Fall and the bondage of the will to sin.  

May God bless us as we consider demonstrating His love to His Fallen world.  

Teach Lord to love as He loved.  Protect us from error and confusion and strengthen us for the fight.  Make us stand firm with You and show forth Your glory as we learn to love.

Amen