If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. (1 Corinthians 13:1)
During our church's devotional series on agape love, I have
noticed that the world often reflects quite the opposite. Horrific acts
of violence fill the news. Persecution, oppression, injustice, greed,
lies, corruption, abuses of power, and divisive politics permeate our
culture breeding hatred and division not only in communities, but also
in families and the church. Wounded, fearful, people respond angrily
and defensively with bitter words and hurtful actions with the result of
escalating the hatred. So how do we infuse Christ’s love into such a
lost and hurting world?
As a passionate, vocal Christian, I have felt like it was
my responsibility to defend the church, the Bible, or our nation's constitution so that I can
hand over a safe and stable political, social, and economic environment
to future generations. Yet, as I have stood for all that I believe is good
and right, I had convinced myself that I was speaking in Jesus name
while at the same time depending upon my strength
instead of His and fighting as if God needs my defense. When I
pondered how to balance God’s sovereignty with man’s responsibility, I
pictured God’s sovereignty on one side of a scale, and my best efforts
which are like filthy rags on the other side. There is no balancing a
God who is always completely sovereign. (1 Timothy 6:14-16) Our
responsibility is simply to follow and trust Him, for He has already won
the battle. His greatest work is love, so we are commanded to love
others. (John 13:34) To love others, we must see others as God sees
them.
Every human life is infinitely valuable as we are all created in God’s
image. When God looks at us, he doesn’t see our political, social, or
racial labels. He sees directly into our hearts. When Jesus met the
Samaritan woman at the well, she pointed out the racial divisions
between them, but Jesus
ignored those trivial differences and spoke straight to her heart at her
point of greatest need. (John 4:19-26) Do we as Christians care more
about our divisive politics or about lost souls? Are we more loyal to
our country or to God’s kingdom? Do we thirst more for our political
platforms or for the word of God? While it may be easy to give the right
answers to these questions, do we consider that our politics or
prejudices could be isolating the lost from the church and from God’s
redeeming word? Are we willing to lay down our politics, pride,
bitterness, self-reliance, and defensive attitudes for the sake of
another sacred soul in need of Christ? Are we more like the Jews who
prized their national freedom without even recognizing how enslaved they
were to sin (John 8:33-36), or are we more like the apostle Paul who
was willing to lay down his freedoms to become all things to all people
so that he might reach more for Christ (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)? Which
do we prize more highly, spiritual freedom from the bondage of sin which
only Christ can give and which no one can ever take away (John
8:31-32), or earthly freedoms given and removed by the whims of
imperfect, ever changing governments?
As a student of Biblical apologetics, I take the command
to always be prepared to make a defense for the hope that is in you
seriously. However, as we study to articulate God’s truth clearly, we
must be careful to read that verse fully and in context.
14 “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but
in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to
make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is
in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3: 14-15)
When we are persecuted for Christ or when God’s truth is
attacked, before speaking, we must remember that a blessing will come out of the persecution. We should calm down and stop worrying because Christ is our King! As we honor Christ with
praises for His Holiness and power, our fears are put to rest. We are
instructed to make a defense to anyone who asks,
but this verse doesn’t tell us to attack everyone we encounter with our
platforms and platitudes. Few will ask us until we have shown them
unconditional love. When we have valued others regardless of whatever
labels they may wear, and they know that we care about them as
individuals rather than as evangelistic projects, then they are more
likely to notice the way we love and ask us why we have such hope. Our
most articulate, apologetic speech will fall on deaf ears or worse,
sound like the noise of clanging cymbals if we speak without a
foundation of love. While we certainly must be ready to give a
defense, the hearer will be more apt to listen when we respond at the
right time with gentleness and respect. (Proverbs 15:23)
Prayer:
Dear Father, we desire to love others unconditionally as
you love us. Please help us to lay down our biases, anxieties, labels,
and bitterness to see others as wounded souls loved lavishly by You.
Give us hearts to worship You, trusting in Your sovereignty and power.
Please help us to focus intently on building each other up in love
instead of arguing over issues that do not ultimately matter. Equip us
to make a kind, respectful, accurate defense rooted first and foremost
in love.
“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)
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