Love in Action

I’ve found a fantastic community of writers on Twitter.  These fellow writers are a constant source of encouragement, motivation, and hope for those like me who are writers and hope to become a published author one day.

I’ve found another community on Twitter that isn’t as encouraging, motivating, or hopeful as my fellow writers.  That community includes Christians who espouse more hatred, anger, racism, sexism, and division than I’ve ever met.  These Christians seem to be of different ethnicities, races, ages, and political parties.  I use the word “seem” because one can never be too sure with the supposed “bots” on Twitter.

The hatred and anger I see on Twitter led me running, screaming, and crying to 1 John 4:20:

“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”

The word “hateth” in this verse is the Greek word, “miseo,” and it means “hatred; to detest (especially to persecute); by extension, to love less: hate(-ful).”

How can someone who proclaims to be a Christian hate or detest another Christian, or anyone for that matter?  I don’t see anywhere in scripture where Jesus hated a person.  He didn’t hate the woman caught in the act of adultery.  He didn’t hate the rich young ruler.  He didn’t hate those who arrested, tried, and crucified Him.  He didn’t hate me all those years ago when I denied Him and didn’t want anything to do with Him.

As I look at some of the comments my “Christian” brothers and sisters post on Twitter, I will not question their salvation because their salvation is not for me to judge.  However, I will take a good look at their fruit.  These “Christians” seem to choose their political party’s ideology over Christ’s mandate to love.  And when we select party over love, something is wrong.

Instead of judging my brothers and sisters, I will look at myself instead.  And I invite you along on this journey of self-introspection.  Let’s ask ourselves some tough questions:

1. Do we secretly look down our noses at people whose skin color is different from our own?
2. Do we secretly feel unsafe around people of a different skin color from us?
3. What’s our attitude toward people who make less money than us?
4. Do we think badly about people associated with an opposing political affiliation?
5. Do we feel joy when another brother or sister-in-Christ, with whom you have differences, falls upon hard times?

I understand that we’re in a politically and racially charged season, but children of God should share the same spiritual party – LOVE.  And we have the same blood covering us – the blood of JESUS CHRIST.  How will we win lost souls to Christ if we’re fighting amongst ourselves?

“By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).

Typing “Christian” on your Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram profile doesn’t mean much in today’s world.  Your ability to love one another, even those who disagree with you politically or socially, is a better indicator that you’re one of Christ’s disciples.

I’m still hopeful for the body of Christ.  I’m still prayerful.  I still look for and expect to see the best in my brothers and sisters-in-Christ.  Let’s come together in unity and let the love of Christ shine in this dark and dying world.

In His service,

~Aretha