How in the world could anyone love that person? Simple - the same way that God loves me...
I am watching the most interesting show on Netflix. It is a sordid story of politics at its worst. It is a story of hate, lust and power. It is devoid of love, and has a paucity of compassion. I believe it is the antithesis of how God wants us to relate to each other. I watch it only out of morbid curiosity and interest. It really does sicken me to think that some might people might actually live this way.
I believe when Christ walked the Earth, the cornerstone of His teachings was to love the unloved. He did. Not only did He love the unloved, He also loved what we believe to be the unlovable. His love was never reserved just for the worthy or the pious - it was for all of us. When we are at our worst, and trust me, I have been there often, God still loves us with that same furious love. Love without measure, without end. Total love.
Love has intrigued and confused mankind since day one. It has been studied, dissected and studied again. Author Erich Fromm has written on love many times. I studied Fromm while in college. In his book The Art of Loving, Fromm describes love this way:
“Love isn't something natural. Rather it requires discipline, concentration, patience, faith, and the overcoming of narcissism. It isn't a feeling, it is a practice.”
Fromm is right. Love is not natural for humans. Our nature is to be self loving and selfish. It is a deliberate act to love others. Love is so important to God, His two greatest commandments have the word "love" contained in them. In Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus explains God's feeling on love:
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
The language in this text is crystal clear. Love is a deliberate action. We are to love with passion, with a purpose. Not just like, not just tolerate, but love. We are to love the lovable, the unloved and yes, even the unlovable. Not just try to do it, but do it. Those who think this is easy are mistaken. It is fighting against our human nature.
We can love with our actions more so than our words. For many today, love has become an abstraction. This is wrong. Every one of us deserves to know that we are loved, not only by God, but also by each other. An old adage states that "love makes the world go round". That is true - but it also holds the world together. For without love, we have nothing. Without love, we are nothing.
Love has intrigued and confused mankind since day one. It has been studied, dissected and studied again. Author Erich Fromm has written on love many times. I studied Fromm while in college. In his book The Art of Loving, Fromm describes love this way:
“Love isn't something natural. Rather it requires discipline, concentration, patience, faith, and the overcoming of narcissism. It isn't a feeling, it is a practice.”
Fromm is right. Love is not natural for humans. Our nature is to be self loving and selfish. It is a deliberate act to love others. Love is so important to God, His two greatest commandments have the word "love" contained in them. In Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus explains God's feeling on love:
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
The language in this text is crystal clear. Love is a deliberate action. We are to love with passion, with a purpose. Not just like, not just tolerate, but love. We are to love the lovable, the unloved and yes, even the unlovable. Not just try to do it, but do it. Those who think this is easy are mistaken. It is fighting against our human nature.
We can love with our actions more so than our words. For many today, love has become an abstraction. This is wrong. Every one of us deserves to know that we are loved, not only by God, but also by each other. An old adage states that "love makes the world go round". That is true - but it also holds the world together. For without love, we have nothing. Without love, we are nothing.
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