All You Need Is Love
John 15:12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another…”
I usually feel like I have to walk on eggshells when I am discussing Christianity with others. The ironic thing is that it’s generally not when I am talking with someone outside the faith, but with professing believers. Any good discussion involves the exchange of ideas. Imagine a conversation without that occuring. It would be like talking to yourself about things you already understand. Inevitably, we all run across someone we disagree with. What are we as Christians to do?
It’s simple, follow Jesus’ commandment. Love them. Love them by listening to them and giving them your silent affirmation. Affirmation makes everyone feel loved. We run too much risk of offending someone by claiming truth or exploring the issue. We live in a culture where disagreement over ideas equates to a personal attack. If we offend them then we show them that we don’t love them. Jesus says we are to die to ourselves. It’s better to show love and be willing to be wrong than to be right.
Oh look, I left off the rest of John 15:12. It continues with, “…as I have loved you.” And in studying the Gospels, I don’t see a single example of Jesus doing what’s described above — especially in context to those that claim to be His followers.
May 4th, 2006 at 8:40 am
amen brother!
i know we have had good theological discussions and i have never been offended or felt attacked by you. we were just discussing topics and showing each other where we came from and how we got to the point we were at.
it is unity not uniformity
May 4th, 2006 at 1:43 pm
What the world needs now
Is love, sweet love
It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of
What the world needs now
Is love, sweet love
No, not just for some
But for every one
Lord, we don’t need another mountain
There are mountains and hill sides enough to climb
There are oceans and rivers
Enough to cross enough to last
Till the end of time
What the world needs now
Is love, sweet love
It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of
What the world needs now
Is love, sweet love
No, not just for some
But for every one
Lord, we don’t need another meadow
There are cornfields and wheatfields enough to grow
There are sunbeams and moonbeams
Enough to shine, oh listen Lord
If you want to know
What the world needs now
Is love, sweet love
It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of
What the world needs now
Is love, sweet love
No, not just for some
Oh, but for every, every one
Burt Bacharach
May 4th, 2006 at 5:33 pm
Thank you Mr. Bacharach for informing the LORD of what we DO and DO NOT need.
May 4th, 2006 at 10:18 pm
I sang the aforementioned Burt Bacharach song in a medley - when I was a member of the Gulf Coast Community College Performing Arts ensemble. Cumberbund and all!!
Good times, man.
May 10th, 2006 at 1:38 am
Couldn’t tell you how much I agree…..