In the name of love?

 

Yesterday’s newspaper revealed that city officials may pass a new bylaw that allows topless swimming in public pools. This is in the name of being inclusive. In other words, the powers that be have decided that the reckless desire of some is more important than the public decency codes that have prevailed for years.

Today’s devotional points to a parallel situation that Christians can fall into, that of accepting false teachers in the name of ‘Christian love and kindness.’ In other words, we don’t want to stand up for the gospel lest others think we are intolerant or bear some other negativity that offends those outside the faith.

MacArthur points out two things. One is that our love for God and other believers marks us as true disciples of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)

Second, Christian love must operate according to biblical principles and spiritual discernment as Paul said, “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment” (Philippians 1:9).

That is, if actions or words seem loving but violate what the Bible says and what discernment reveals, it is not true Christian love. When John wrote his second letter, it warns those who were hosting false teachers in the name of love and Christian hospitality. He says:

And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. (2 John 5–11)

This could seem extreme or unloving, but the purity of God’s people was at stake. We would not give money to a bank robber because we pity his poverty, or offer kind words to a man who abuses his children, or be nice to someone who smashes his car into a crowd — in the name of Christian love. In the mind of God, standing firm for truth carries the same importance. In fact, the NT applies this to those who are disorderly, never mind those who violate the legal system.

May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. (2 Thessalonians 3:5–6)

Again, Christian love must guard sound doctrine and holy living rather than tolerating false teachers and sin. We cannot compromise morality or doctrinal purity by thinking we are unloving. That is what the world does. The Lord calls us to be godly, not worldly.

Love can be difficult to express as it is defined in the Bible. It is far easier to take the world’s definition of tolerance than to be firm in our faith and loving others as God loves us. He does forgive when I repent, but I’ve never found Him to simply pat me kindly for being sinful!

The words that follow Paul’s prayer tell the reason for loving with Biblical knowledge and discernment. He says it is “so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:10–11) The world’s ideas of love do not do any of those things.

Lord Jesus, I thank You for the “hope does not put me to shame” that comes from Your “love poured into my heart through the Holy Spirit who has been given to me” (Romans 5:5) and that You also give Your Word and discernment so I can know how to express that love to others. May I never think that being tolerant of sin and lies has anything to do with love. These are tools of the enemy to blind Your people and keep us from the challenges of speaking the truth in love and defending the Gospel — in Your name and for Your glory. Grant me more discernment and a greater desire to obey You in all things.

EXTRA STUDY: What do the following passages teach about love? How can I apply them to my life? 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; Romans 12:9–10; 5:5; 1 John 4:7–10; Galatians 5:22; 1 Peter 1:22; 4:8.