It is the most radical love one could imagine—loving the world. Think about that for a moment. For many of us, John 3:16 rolls off our tongues with ease, but think of the implications. “The world” includes every person living now and who has ever lived, and not just those admired and well thought of, but also those hated and loathed. Think Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Pol Pot. Think Nero and Pontius Pilate. Think mass murderers and child rapists. Think of terrorists and slave traders. Think embezzlers and tax cheats. Think of the worst people you can imagine and they have not escaped the radical love of God.
Indeed, it is scandalous. Francis Chan calls it crazy. It’s both. But one would hardly know it because it has been “Hallmarked.” It has been sentimentalized to the point it is almost unrecognizable. If God truly loves the “scum of the earth,” then that means we love everyone, based not on feelings but on reality—God loves this person, then so shall I. The rapist, the murderer, the cheat. You will never see that type of love in a greeting card commercial, and sadly, often not in the church. But this is the love God calls His followers to. We love because He first loved us—all of us.
This is very difficult to do, but not impossible. Through the power of the Lord and through recognizing the depth of our own sin, we can love in a similar radical and crazy way. Sentimental greeting card love feels nice, but it does not have the depth to reach the unlovable and the world is full of unlovable people—perhaps you would even include yourself in that.
No, the world needs a more substantial love. It needs a love that, scandalously, includes everyone. And that is exactly what God has given. Now if only we His followers could love like Him. That would be crazy, and wonderful.
© Jim Musser 2015
No comments:
Post a Comment