Word for Word 6/24/26

Wanderings of a Wayward Follower of Jesus

What is Christian Love and how do we as Christians live into it?  Let me start off by saying the love our Triune God has for all of His created beings (i.e. Humanity/Us) and how we are to exhibit to one another is not inclusive to one’s salvation. But, that discussion will need to wait for another time.

On to Christian love… I look at Christian love using this premise; I can agree to disagree with you on how you do or see or believe X, Y, or Z. But that does not in any way take away from the fact that you are a creation of God with great worth. Regardless of “X, Y, or Z” or whether I like you or not, I can share everyday life experiences with you… I can laugh with you, I can cry with you, if you are in harm’s way or need assistance, I will be there to intervene. We can co-exist, but we may not be able to co-habitat.

Here is what God tells us about Love; “Love your neighbor as yourself.”, “As I (Jesus) have loved you, so you must love one another”, “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (i.e. Friends means “all” because God loves all)”.  To understand how we can relate to “all”, read the Bible, especially Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John which shows us how Jesus related to others in this earthly world. But read them in the context of relationships; How did Jesus relate to the people He came in contact with?  Didn’t Jesus avoid or minimize meeting or socializing with certain people at certain times?  Didn’t Jesus use both loving and harsh language when talking about or to someone? Didn’t Jesus demand certain expectations from people to be a follower or to continue to be a Follower of Him? Did Jesus heal everyone who came to him?

Then ask yourself; Did something happen in me when I said “Yes” to God?  How did I change? Are there expectations when I turn my life over to God?  The Apostle Paul, who himself was transformed from a Jewish persecutor of Christians to a devoted follower of Christ said this about his transformation, “If I was ‘trying to be good,’ I would be rebuilding the same old barn that I tore down. I would be acting as a charlatan.

What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So, I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God.

Christ lives in me.  The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that. Galatians 2:15-21 (The Message) Christian Love is not seen through our eyes but Christ. There is no room within Christian love or a Christ centered life for Me, Myself, & I. And all God’s People Said…. Amen.

Pastor James Buckhahn, United Methodist Church, Lansing