FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2024 - LET LOVE BEGIN WITH ME.

 WEEKEND OF MAY 24-26, THEY WILL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS BY OUR LOVE

We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord.
We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord.
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored.
And they'll know we are Christians by our love.
Yeah, they'll know we are Christians by our love

We will work with each other; we will work side by side

We will work with each other; we will work side by side

And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love

Yeah, they'll know we are Christians by our love.

We will walk with each other; we will walk hand in hand

We will walk with each other; we will walk hand in hand

And together, we’ll spread the news that God is in this land

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love

Yeah, they'll know we are Christians by our love.

*****

Ah yes, “they’ll” (I’ll take that as anybody we meet) and each other. I picture walking with somebody hand in hand; I picture working with somebody side by side with dignity and pride.

I view this as Agape Love—God's perfect, infinite love for us. Then, we have that perfect love for others.  

*****

But the reality is very far from the song. We don’t walk with each other, we don’t work with each other, and we don’t love each other.  

At a previous church, there is a place in the worship service for the “passing of the peace.”  That generally says “Peace be with you” to everyone around you.  As in more formal worship services, we all have our “favorite” places to sit.  Mine was the front row. A lady was generally next to me (with a bit of space - using pews - not chairs).  When it was time to pass the peace, we stood up - and immediately, she turned her back to me.  Out of four years of sitting in that row, she never greeted me or said “Peace be with you” to me, but she did to the people around her.  

Now I know that I’m in the wrong here.   I haven’t walked a mile in this lady’s shoes.  I barely know her name and haven’t attempted to be a friend.  

Matthew 7:3-5 says:

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is always a plank in your eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

I have a multitude of “planks” in my eye, yet I see this speck in this lady’s eye.  We don’t even try to love one another; we can’t say, “We are Christians by our Love” - because we don’t love others.  We don’t even pretend to love each other.  

There is a hospitality aspect of “They’ll know we are Christians by our Love.”  Have I invited the person to coffee or to visit them?  A friend recently talked about growing faith in small groups.  Yes, we can go to a worship service once a week (checkmark - one more Sunday service - I’m working on my “don’t miss a Sunday service merit badge.)”  But do we grow?  Do we walk with each other and work with each other?  Do we try to be friends (let alone a person who loves them?)   

What does it REALLY MEAN to be a loving Christian - to ALL people? 

Karen answers, “It means more than what I am claiming to be .”

I can talk about love winning - but I need to act about love winning!!!

*****

Another Christian song is “There There Be Peace on Earth.”

Let there be peace on earth.

And let it begin with me.

Let There Be Peace on Earth

The peace that was meant to be

But the end of that song is:

Let there be peace on earth.

And let it begin with me.

Let there be love on earth - and I KNOW IT HAS TO BEGIN WITH MY!!!!

Love does win - but we need to commit to it

Love does transform us - but we need to commit to it

Karen Anne White, May 24-25, 2024