Known By Love

John 13:33-35

Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. (John 13:35)

CHRISTIANITY HAS EXPERIENCED its share of reformations, one of which began radically transforming the church five centuries ago. One of the strengths of that reformation was its emphasis on God’s Word as the reliable foundation of all truth. One of its drawbacks was that Christians began defining themselves by how they interpret that truth. The result is that we have, by some estimates, at least 35,000 denominations (and multiple streams of thought within them) in the world today, with virtually all believing they have cornered the market on doctrine and understanding. Our dedication to the Word of God has divided us in countless ways.

Scripture itself never defines us by our doctrinal understanding, and we can be grateful for that. It comes closer to defining us by our love for God and for each other—in truth, of course, not in hair-splitting, fellowship-breaking distinctions. God never changes, but his people are constantly learning, experiencing new challenges, growing in understanding, gaining insights, and being led in various ways. We will never get to the point of having exhausted all possible experiences with his infinite being. Even in eternity, we will be seeing him from new angles and marveling at his works forever. We need to have the humility today to understand that our glimpse of his glory does not define who he is but contributes to the whole picture.

What we really need is another reformation that allows the body of Christ to see and experience unity in the Spirit. In some ways, this is already happening, but much of the world doesn’t recognize it yet. We are not known for our love but for being uptight, divisive, condemning, and argumentative. Love undoes such things. It doesn’t ignore truth; it simply bridges the gaps in our understanding of it. It reaches into lives with real compassion and grace. When we step into that kind of love, we will change not only the image of the church but the lives of the people within and outside of it.

{Jesus, we have fallen short of your purposes, but the calling you’ve given us remains. Above all else, fill us with love. Overwhelm my heart with your compassion for people, and give me opportunities to show it. Amen.