94. The Problem of Love

1 Corinthians 13:1 – 3 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

I may be liberal – I can live with that – my theology can be considered soft.  After all, I lean towards homosexuality, as practiced by those I know and love, not being a sin.  (Heterosexuality as practiced by some I know and love is a sin).  I tend to overemphasize God’s love and grace for us. Much of my theological leanings come from my rejection of what I see as works based theology which I see as just another form of legalism.

When I read the words of Jesus it seems to be that there is a huge emphasis on love.  So when Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 7:21) I don’t think he was referring to the list of rules that we can come up with.  Nor do I think that he was referring to believing correctly.  I do think he was referring to whether we love each other, and our neighbours and our enemies.  And loving God.

This is not an easier softer way.  Love is neither convenient or simple.  We busy ourselves doing what we believe God wants us to do.  But we have this ego-centric – self centred – idea of what that is and it usually comes out as being good; but are we really doing the will of God? I include myself in this struggle – it would so much easier if a life of faith was a life of behaving – even for one so challenged as I.  But the challenge is so much more – to love.

And I am not suggesting that we don’t need to behave.  We do. 

But at a certain point we are called – compelled to stop working on our personal righteousness – and to begin loving others.  And that is the hard part.  It calls for us to be conscientious – how would we want to be loved?  It calls for us to be compassionate.  The idea that I can love my neighbour, my enemy and myself by pointing out my flaws is, well, wrong.  

Am I working out the will of God?  That calls for a personal relationship with him.  And that relationship does not come without costs.  There will be times that loving our neighbour and our enemy will call for us to go against many things; doctrine, other’s opinions and our own personal morality.

How many did times did Jesus set his follower apart from the morality of the teachers of the law?  Do you think that he will be more respectful of the teachings of your church?  Of your own morality?  I totally understand Steve Chalke’s stance on monogamous same sex marriages as he stating that it was because of what is written in the bible. 

Just a side note – if you are relying on someone else telling you what is right or wrong – what is ethical and moral – then you don’t need religion, you need therapy. 

There is no safe quarter with the love of God.  There is no having made it.  My greatest deceptions with my wife have been the acts of compassion and charity (love) that I have done while ensuring they remain undiscovered.

We are called to live in a context of power, influence, with others.  We are not called to stand form a distance and point the way.  We are called to join others in their struggles, in their lives, and care for them.  Jesus tells us - For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. He does mention correcting them, or telling them that they are wrong, or converting them.

Love is many things, but it is not convenient. 

And yes, I have been writing about power within and with others.

93. Power With

 Galatians 5:14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

It has been a bit of a struggle to write this blog entry.  To me, it just seems so obvious, that words are difficult to find.  So, after much stalling, and procrastinating – don’t ask me was a professional crastinator does – here goes.

When I read scripture, I read much differently than what others seem to read.  I know I read scripture much differently than I used to read it.  Even the Old Testament, where others report that God is cranky, in need of anger management lessons, and is just generally a vengeful ass, I see God as a compassionate, forgiving and loving.  Maybe I have ingested too many antidepressants.

         

I believe God calls us, and always has called us, to love our neighbours.  That we are called, drawn, compelled to experience power with other people; both in the giving and the receiving of that power.  It is hard to separate the concepts of power with, and power within.  For as I join with you whether it be in struggle, or in celebration, we are both empowered by that act.

But power with seems to be immeasurably superior.  Consider, Dan T. Cathy, the Chairman, President and CEO of fast-food chain Chick-fil-A. When criticized for his stance on same-sex marriages, he reached out to those who were most vocal.  The result was a friendship with one of the activists that spoke out against him.  (Yes, I have written about this before.)

          Was this a simple corporate strategy to stave off criticism?  I think not.  I think Dan a devout Christian had one of those moments when he loved his neighbour as himself.  Actually, he had one of those moments when he loved his enemy. 

          As a result, both Dan and Shane Windmeyer (the activist) developed a friendship. They still disagree on the morality of homosexuality and the ethics of same gendered marriages.  But there is respect for each other and not begrudgingly.  But Dan and his company Chik-Fil-A has changed considerably regarding the treatment of LGBTQ people.

          In this story, which honestly charms me, I see the shadows of the story of the Good Samaritan.  We are all familiar, or most of us, with that story.  That those who were supposedly closer to God would have nothing to do with the man who had been robbed and left for dead.  We all cast ourselves in the role of the Samaritan.  But we don’t consider is that animosity between the Jew and the Samaritan.  In all honesty the Samaritan could not be blamed if he walked over looked at the man in ditch, spat on him and said, “Serves you right.”

Power with, which I believe is the God within us, calls us to compassion.  It is offering hope instead of condemnation.  It is offering reconciliation instead of estrangement.  It is recognizing that we are all the same.  Repeatedly, we are called in scripture to join with others.

Friends of mine, and I join with them, try to live by the adage “To heal one is to heal all.”