Putting on Love

My mouse hesitated over the post button on a political cartoon, thinking "This is mostly true...but is it worth sharing?" 

"Is it going to ruin a chance to introduce someone to Jesus? ...Maybe."

"Arghh. It's not worth it."

Whether I like it or not, my actions represent Jesus, on and offline.

The quest to love is like how Galadriel describes the Fellowship's mission in The Fellowship of the Ring: “The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail…” Love can be a delicate operation to say the least. The New Testament equips us with effective ways to overcome the passions that corrupt our love for neighbor though.

Love is not just a feeling. Love is an action which we are called to step into by faith. Love doesn't make worldly sense. It makes us look bizarre and foolish by the world's ideals. Love doesn't always make is a great entertainer; it does make us the ideal neighbor and, even more, a faithful follower of Jesus.

"Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful." Colossians 3:12-15

"Putting on love" means we are called to choose love based upon Jesus' model of life and the salvation he accomplished. It means we choose love instead of anger, malice, slander, or filthy language. It means we are not entitled to delight in our “enemy’s” demise or uncharitable rants with incendiary language - even if that is how others play the game.

That isn’t easy though; knowing not to do it doesn’t mean I won’t. My heart can be ice cold despite knowing better. I need a strategy to warm my heart and fit myself with this divine love. Here are 7 strategies for Christians to dress themselves in love when hate is on the horizon:

1.     Pray for your enemies. Jesus taught his disciples to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you..." (Matthew 5:43-45) When you feel the frustration rising and your mind searching for a scathing response, you know it's time to take a knee and ask the Lord to bless this person. This will change your heart and does them genuine good! 

 2.  Create space. Sometimes we need distance from the situation to get perspective. You usually don’t have to respond immediately (or at all). Air, light, time, and space help us heed James's advice: "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry..." (James 1:19-20) This doesn't earn you "cool points,” but it does often keep your conscience clear and witness intact.

3. Call a friend. Call in your mature friend or mentor to coach you through the emotions and ideas. They can give you a bird’s eye view and help you avoid landmines. This only works if you give them the whole picture and not just the details that make you look good! (Proverbs 11:14)

4.  Contemplate the life of Jesus. He pursued the will of God and resisted sin to the point of death! What would Jesus say to this person or in this situation? How would he combine grace and truth here? What words would he wield to build this person up? (Hebrews 12:1-4, John 1:17, 1st Thessalonians 5:11)

5.  Confess your Sin. Just like mold, hate, frustration, and arrogance, grow in darkness, so we need to shed light on our attitude’s black mold spores. Confession to God and others increases our love and decreases our hate. If you are unsure if you should confess it to someone, ask your friend from #3! (James 5:16, 1^st John 1:9)

6.     Forgive them. We need to forgive like Christ forgave us. The cost of forgiveness is high, but much lower than the cost of bitterness and anger. After all, did I earn God’s forgiveness or was that given to me in grace? We won’t always get a hug-it-out happy ending, but harboring unforgiveness corrodes what is vital for the best life: intimacy with Jesus and a clear conscience. (Colossians 3:12-13)

7.  Speak gently: It is our choice- we can stir the pot or turn off the burner. When others are fuming, a gentle answer turns down the temperature. Solomon recorded this for his son hoping it would keep him out of trouble: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1

Believers, love is called to be our strategy, game plan, and blueprint. It is our best life now, regardless of the cost. Put it on and know that you are strong in the Lord, even if the world considers you foolish. The world's wisdom will take you on a path of living like the Grinch instead of our exalted Savior.

 

This is part two about loving our neighbors in 2020. Check out the first here.