Unfinished Faith: Relearning God.

The bit where I introduce:  Loving people we don’t understand.

Is there someone in your life right now that is hard to love for multiple reasons? Or in your past? We have all had at times someone who rubs us the wrong way, a work colleague who might get on our nerves, or a family member who you do not want at the family event who argues every point. Is it a sibling you are estranged from, or someone in your friend group? Whomever it is, loving them takes every ounce of your grace. Or do you simply choose they are not worthy of your love?

How is it possible to do this? Love them that is, and is it necessary aka can I get away with just not gossiping about them? Is it really something that is of importance to my values enough to practice in my life?

The bit where I refer to the bible: and ask a few rhetorical questions:

Jesus had something to say about this. Ever read Galatians 5? It is outlining what freedom is when we say yes to following Jesus. Back then in those bible times, rules were especially important and never truer in what they believed. Their titles, holding positions in the community religious or not and proving their worth was the mantra of the day back then but I would argue also today in our current society. They needed a framework, nothing wrong with guidelines, just as we do the point was NOT just ticking a box, going through the motions and religiously following rules for the sake of rules.

What Jesus wanted us to get, via Paul the author was that when we dedicate ourselves to following Him it is not about the rules, it is about relationship, which sets us apart from other religions.

 Who was there in the 80-s and 90’s where when you made a faith decision you were told you had to give up all kinds of stuff? Drinking, swearing, watching those late night SBS shows. Jesus wants us to love well, including others when we are changed by Him because of how He loves us.

 So, when we read:” the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: Love your neighbour as yourself” it is a practical example of a command, a direct living obligation if you will, to show love to others, like how we would naturally extend to ourselves. In Greek, the word love in this instance translates as (Greek agapaō) a selfless self-sacrificial love (reminds us of Jesus’ love for us right?)

 Think of the person you just don’t like at the moment, who has wronged you in the harshest of ways but you still have relationship with them, He wants us to show love to that person and watch how we treat them, especially when we disagree, are frustrated or feel justified in ghosting them on social media.  Really God? I mean like really love them? I barely even like them!

Is the way we treat these people creating connection or causing harm? Would a colleague, or relative who is watching you say you are treating them different to what the world says? Because, if we are doing it in our own lives, then that is the clearest evidence of what is shaping us internally and our values in life because we are set free to serve others in this way. He wants us to be representatives of His love as Cory Asbury wrote in his song describing God’s love for us as ” overwhelming, never-ending, reckless” ,can we show that kind of love towards the unlovable?

The decisive factor is how can we expect that from Jesus if we are not authentically doing it ourselves? Or do we not expect or want Him to do that so we can forego the loving the hard people bit? Forgiveness is another step, and a whole other devotion, as is righteous anger. I like Thomas Merton’s quote. He was an American monk who said this: “Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether they are worthy. That is not our business, and, in fact, it is nobody’s business. What we are asked to do is to love, and this love itself will render both ourselves and our neighbours worthy if anything can.”

Loving them whether we think they deserve our love or not, tough call, I know I have struggled and still do with this one.

The bit where you get to think about stuff: Questions for the week.

Who do I find the hardest to love right now and what might be getting in the way of compassion?

In moments of disagreement or tension, do my words and actions move toward understanding or self-protection and defensiveness?

What is one small practical way I could choose love this week, am I willing to do this even if it costs me comfort, pride or certainty?