When I was in Washington, D.C. the day after the Presidential election last November, there was a group of protesters shouting, “Love Trumps Hate!”
I agree. Love indeed, trumps hate. The only problem was, these protesters were also angry, pushy, rude, and using profanity. Their actions obliterated their message. How were they representing love?
But their actions made me think.
How am I representing love during these tumultuous times?
I asked God how He wants me to represent love. His answer: The way my Son loves is the way you are to love.
In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, an expert of the law asks Jesus how to inherit eternal life. Jesus asks the man what is written in the law. The man recites this scripture,“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.”
He also asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”
This is how Jesus responds, “’A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.’” (Luke 10:25-37 paraphrased)
What if this story took place in the 21st century? It might look a little different. What if the story went something like this…
A group of angry protesters saw a person who had been badly beaten on the side of the road. But he didn’t share their beliefs. Maybe he’s gay. Maybe he’s a Christian. Maybe he’s black. Maybe he was actually born she. Maybe he’s a police officer. Or maybe it’s a woman who is pro-choice. Fill in the blank however you choose. It really doesn’t matter. What matters is this: everyone mentioned are human beings. Everyone mentioned is a neighbor.
What did Jesus say again? “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
As human beings, neighbors and countrymen, do we not have more commonality than differences?
Think about that for a minute.
We all need love, acceptance, freedom, understanding, and protection.
Okay, about this time you might be thinking I’m just spouting some 1960’s style rhetoric spawned from lyrics like the popular Beatles song, “Love is All You Need. Love, love, love, love.” (blah, blah, blah!) As if we can take our complex issues and opinions, wrap us all up tight in a love quilt, and then Presto! Problems solved!
Nothing could be farther from the truth. I know it’s not that easy. In fact, it’s pretty darned tough. But that is what love is. Love is tough. Take a look at a portion of this familiar Bible passage known as The Love Chapter.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Let’s just start with the first one: Patient. Having patience is HARD! Ask any parent. What about this one: Love keeps no records of wrongs. Don’t we tend to remember more of how we were mistreated than when someone does or says something kind? It’s our sinful human nature.
My friends, I’m not proposing some warm and fuzzy or mystical ideology, here.
Let’s be practical. Love takes effort and self-discipline. And quite frankly, we are not capable of true love without tapping into the source of love, God Almighty, who IS love. And by the way, God is practical, relevant, and current with the times. He knows all about what we tweet and post.
From the start of the campaigning up to now, we’ve witnessed deplorable, unloving behavior. It didn’t matter which “side” you were on, we were all disgusted.
So, why then, are we continuing the same slanderous, cruel, and divisive behaviors?
Take a look at 1 Corinthians 13:11 (The Love Chapter)
“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.”
I ask you, no, I beg you—let’s stop acting like children! Spoiled, rotten children who have not gotten their way. And I’m not just referring to Millennials either.
I mean really, is this how we teach our children to handle conflict? To throw a fit, to throw a fist, to fire a weapon, to take a life, to bully, to use our words as weapons, name calling like crybaby snowflakes?
Our children are watching. The entire world is watching.
And why is the world watching? Because the United States of America is a world superpower. I say that not in pride, but in humility. For as quoted by Benjamin Parker,
“With great power comes great responsibility.”
All Americans have a responsibility to do this thing right. Whether or not your chosen candidate won, this is OUR country. We must come together in unity and love.
“…that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” ~Abraham Lincoln, November 19, 1863, The Gettysburg Address.
Perish from the earth? Perish the thought! Could it be possible that division could tear us apart, literally?
“If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.”
~Jesus Christ
Frightening! Our “united” states are not united. We are dangerously divided. It is said that all negative emotions are rooted in fear. Negative emotions are on display—broadcasted across media every single day.
Are our individual fears worth the collective loss?
My friends, we can show love and respect to a person without having to agree with them. I’m not in any way saying as Christ followers we should bend, twist or change the Word of God in order to condone sinful behaviors and lifestyles. But isn’t being hateful toward another person sin too? Unloving behavior towards others that don’t agree with us has led our country to division. We are grieved, angry, and vulnerable to failure.
The way forward is for each of us to look inward and then upward.
Look inward and face our anger, biases, assumptions, and prejudices. Look upward to God Almighty for forgiveness, grace, wisdom, unity, peace and LOVE.
Reconciliation is more important than legislation. Americans must learn how to communicate respectfully and nonviolently. We must look to see what we have in common. Every idea from the right is not wrong. Nor is every ideology from the left wrong. We must look for the things each can teach us and find common ground. We must love our neighbors, our countrymen, as ourselves.
Loving our neighbor, despite our differences is the only way to make America great again because…
LOVE TRUMPS EVERYTHING!
“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this one. Please use the comments below to share respectfully what’s on your mind.
Because of the internet, I have many readers in other parts of the world. First of all, I’d like to say thank you for reading. Secondly, I ask if you would please join me in prayer for The United States of America.
This post is linked to#LMMLinkup at, http://maryanderingcreatively.com/lmmlinkup-looking-for-new-hosts/
Love is truly the greatest of the three and I think sometimes we forget how powerful sure love can be. America needs lots of prayers!
Thank you, Mags for your comment and joining me in prayer for our country. I have found that the most important thing prayer has done in my life is CHANGE ME and my perspectives. I’ve gone to the Lord hoping to change another or a certain situation, and over time realize the change that occurred was my own heart. God is so good!
Beckie — love this — not just because I am involved in local politics but of the message. I was in DC for the inauguration and witnessed some violent protests. Love your perspective that reconciliation is more important than legislation. This is OUR country — we all can love it — and we all can do as Christ and love each other.
Del, Thanks so much for your comment. I was a bit nervous about writing this. There’s a lot of opinions flying around and didn’t want to be another “clanging gong”. But after much prayer, God showed me that a message about TRUE LOVE which of course is God’s, must never be silent and more importantly, demonstrated.
Great message, Beckie. If our country fails, we can only blame ourselves. Everyone is so angry, they can’t see the common ground we share . If we could join forces there, so much good could be accomplished. Thanks for sharing.
Father we need You please unite us as one under You just as Jesus prayed for in the Garden of Gethsamene we thank You for the LOVE that allows us to share in Your grace! In Jesus Name AMEN
Thank you Beckie!!
Eve, Amen! Thanks for sharing your prayer.
You have said it all here, Beckie, echoing the same thoughts and reflections I’ve been having ever since the election. Divided, we cannot stand – ever! I’m praying that somewhere along the line, God will shine His light of revelation into the hearts of those so consumed my hate right now, and that we, as Christians, can reach out to those who are different from us with love and respect.
For we are God’s children, and our behaviors should ever reflect the same.
Blessings!
Martha, Yes! Christians have a wonderful opportunity to reach across the dividing lines with love, respect, and compassion.
Well-written and expressed with such truth and love. Thank you for posting.
Melanie, Thanks for taking the time to comment and joining me in prayer for our nation.
Blessings!
Well written and timely post, Beckie. I awoke at 2:00a today, tail end of the flu and as I lay in the dark listening to worship music, I heard the words … “love trumps hate.” I pondered the power of the love that allowed Jesus to endure the cross for me. Our example of authentic love. Then I glanced at my email to see your blog title. A confirmation, indeed. Praying this tiny, but dynamite 3 word prayer for our nation with you.
Kathryneann, First of all, I’m so sorry you’ve been hit by the flu bug—yuck! But I’m glad it’s on the tail end. Secondly, I’m pleased you shared about how the Holy Spirit will speak to us in the night (I think because we’ve finally calmed our spirits) and even awaken us to pray. I’ve had it happens more times than I can count. I hear it from other Christians too.
Lastly, it’s remarkable how the Lord knits His children together in prayer. I’m truly humbled and honored to have anything I have written be used by Him. God is so good and all the glory is HIS!
Thanks for joining me and so many others in prayer for our great nation, its leaders, and citizens.
Blessing on you and yours!
Thanks for sharing this, Beckie. What a challenging time our nation is in, and we certainly need prayer. Thanks for the reminder to pray for our nation. I regret that I don’t do that enough.
I think the Good Samaritan example is a poignant one, since it is the religious leaders who passed the hurting man. I pray that in the midst of all that is going on, Christians would not pass by the hurting, even those who might be hurting and using their voice in a very “unChristian” way. Those are the people God has called us to love. And if we pass them by, either with direct opposition to their message, with ignorance to their plea, or even with inner peace that God is in control and can help them without using us, I fear we will not be representing Christ well.
My hubby and daughter marched on inauguration day; their poster said, “Jesus loves every person” and they received numerous comments that their message was one of true love and hope for all. He saw lots of hate, lots of fear, and also lots of hurting. But he was there with them, talking with them and trying to shine a light towards a love that truly does trump all hate. I love that they marched. 🙂
Katie,
Thank you for sharing how your husband and daughter marched on inauguration day. This is one powerful way to teach our children! We can speak and write all about love, but “showing” love through our actions is the heart of Jesus’ message.
Yes, these are challenging times in our nation, but God’s love is deeper, higher, wider, and longer than even the ugliest human hatred. As Christians, we have an awesome opportunity to be used by God to show people the love and grace they are craving. Isn’t that amazing? God uses us! I’m always awed by that. Unfortunately, many have misused the Bible and misrepresented God’s grace-filled, redemptive message. WE can change that by humbling ourselves before our Father and asking Him to infuse us with His love through His precious Holy Spirit.
God bless and your hubby for raising kids to “show” the love of Christ!
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I know readers are blessed by comments like yours.
I’ve seen a lot of hate from both sides. I often feel quite helpless to change anything. Truly, we must start within our sphere of influence (however small) and spread messages like yours to show kindness/patience/gentleness/peace etcetera in whatever way we can.
Elihu, I agree. Our pastor teaches us that we all have a sphere of influence of about 8-15 people. The Greek word for this is Oikos. If each Christian reaches out to our Oikos in love, looking and praying for opportunities to shine, just imagine the changes we’d see!
Thanks for your comment and continued support and wisdom.
Blessings!
This post is amazing! Can you imagine what the world would look like if everyone loved just half as much as Jesus does? By the way, I nominated you for an award on my blog 🙂
Emily, Thanks for reading and commenting. To love like Jesus, we need to spend time with Jesus, right?
Yes! Amen to that.
Beckie, thanks so much for this. As always, encouraging and convicting. You’re such a teacher!
Neli, Wow! I appreciate your comment so much. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts at Literacy Musing Mondays. Thanks for the reminder to love like Jesus loves.
Brandi, It’s my honor to link up at #LMM. Thanks for stopping by Spotlight and taking the time to comment.
Blessings!
What a timely message, Beckie! Everyone needs to read this. Thank you for pointing us back to Jesus!
Thank you, Crickett. Oh, how this nation needs to “see” the great love of our God demonstrated through the church—all Christians. Imagine if each one of us made a commitment to truly show love to the people we influence on a regular basis?
I am going to share this. You were there to see the protests. I just watched on TV. We do need to find common ground and let God’s love be supreme.
Thanks, Katy!
I love this message–it’s one we Christians should all be spreading. I especially like your updated parable. So good!
Heather, Thanks for reading and joining me in prayer for our nation. One of your posts helped me put together my thoughts and prayers to write this.
Blessings!