TRANSFORMING LOVE
"PUBLIC EXPOSURE REQUIRES PERSONAL TRANSPRACY "
As I consider the overall plight of our community, I am challenged by thoughts of how I can make a difference in the lives of people. I am realistic enough to know that I cannot personally touch thousands of people. However, the Holy Spirit challenges me to consider my personal circle of community. The first question is who is in my personal circle of community and second, how can I affect their individual lives. I am quick to respond with a list of people easy for me to love. As I reviewed the list of people I knew, I realized even as a pastor, there were people I did not want to love now or ever again. Actions, behaviors, betrayals, that have hurt those I love or me are the reasons I do not want to love certain people. This includes the physicians whose failings resulted in my granddaughter’s cerebral palsy.
It is not just “not loving” someone, in some cases I have dismissed these people out of my life. This past Sunday, I had a very convicting experience. I was at a local restaurant. I observed a dear saint and her husband; I was hungry to greet them because of my love for them. In the process of exchanging pleasantries, two other men arrived to join the couple. One of the men I have loved from the very first day we met and I greeted him whole-heartedly, the second man I had loved once before. Betrayal was at the core of my distain for him. In his eyes and in the tone of his voice, I knew he sought recognition from me. He was hungry for restoration and fellowship; I was hungry for vengeance. Looking into his eyes, I knew I held power over his spirit. I spoke his name to him and patted his shoulder, but would give no more. I dismissed him, knowing his need for fellowship. If I did not want to like him anymore, how could I love him ever again? In my disregard for this fellow Christian, I am the problem hindering transforming love!
Over the years ministering in our community, I have heard pastors and saints speak of conflicts between saints and our various churches. I have heard pastors state congregates do not “like” each other. If we do not like each other in the church, how can we love those outside the church? If the common bond of Christ and the crucifixion is not sufficient to bind us together in love, how then will the circle of the Christian Community grow? Obviously, people like me and I have not learned how to love others as God loves us. In my pursuit with others for community transformation through prayer, I need to understand transforming love for our community. How does God love me in the face of my betrayal of Him?
In First John 4:9-10, we learn of God’s active love to draw us to Himself.
“9 In this the love (AGAPE) of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love (AGAPE), not that we loved God, but that He loved (AGAPAO) us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words states of the above verses, “Love can be known only from the actions it prompts. God's love is seen in the gift of His Son. But obviously this is not the love of complacency, or affection, that is, it was not drawn out by any excellency (sic) in its objects, Rom 5:8. It was an exercise of the divine will in deliberate choice, made without assignable cause save that which lies in the nature of God Himself, Cf. Deut 7:7,8.”
Vine’s explanation speaks volumes as to how God loves you and me. God’s love, it is not complacent or merited love towards me. God is not waiting for the “perfect” me before God will love me. God has chosen to love me in spite of me. God’s nature is to love so God actively express His love towards me! In First John 4:11 we read “11 Beloved, if God so loved (AGAPAO) us, we also ought to love (AGAPAO) one another.” Scripture instructs me to love others in an active manner, not based on the merit of the other person, but solely because as a Christian, I am to reflect the nature of God. I must make the deliberate choice to love my circle of community. However, how is this kind of love an influence to our community at large?
The above question is most important to transformation endeavors. Jesus has spoken to the important function of Christian love in the church. Jesus states in John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love (AGAPAO) one another; as I have loved (AGAPAO) you, that you also love (AGAPAO) one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love (AGAPE) for one another.” This love for one another is the witness of our fidelity to Christ. We cannot say we are Christians and not have love for other Christians. I ask you to give attention to the quality of love in the passages I have quoted. Brotherly love is much deeper than friendship.
I suspect Christians may not be aware of the quality of love we are called to express towards one another. There may be confusion regarding the nature of the love necessary for Christian unity. The misunderstanding is centered in the world’s application of “PHILEO” love. “Phileo” love is love of tender affection. This type of love is not of the same depth of quality of agapao or agape love. Vine states “phileo is to be distinguished from agapao in this, that phileo more nearly represents "tender affection." Within the church, we are commanded to love intentionally and certainly NOT contingent on merit! Tender affection is insufficient love for the church; it will not cover the multitude of sin in the church. In First Peter 4:8 we read “8 And above all things have fervent love (agape) for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins.” Only when we exercise deliberate and unmerited love for one another in the church will the greater community know we are Christians. When the greater community is confident of Christian love they will desire to know more of God’s perfect love for themselves. How do I love? How do you love?
A personal note to the pastors who dared to share their heart on this matter: Your honesty and openness has resulted in a deep personal experience of conviction in my own desperate soul. As I move towards reconciliation with this brother, pray for me.
by Grace Alone!
Pastor Steve Perez
As I consider the overall plight of our community, I am challenged by thoughts of how I can make a difference in the lives of people. I am realistic enough to know that I cannot personally touch thousands of people. However, the Holy Spirit challenges me to consider my personal circle of community. The first question is who is in my personal circle of community and second, how can I affect their individual lives. I am quick to respond with a list of people easy for me to love. As I reviewed the list of people I knew, I realized even as a pastor, there were people I did not want to love now or ever again. Actions, behaviors, betrayals, that have hurt those I love or me are the reasons I do not want to love certain people. This includes the physicians whose failings resulted in my granddaughter’s cerebral palsy.
It is not just “not loving” someone, in some cases I have dismissed these people out of my life. This past Sunday, I had a very convicting experience. I was at a local restaurant. I observed a dear saint and her husband; I was hungry to greet them because of my love for them. In the process of exchanging pleasantries, two other men arrived to join the couple. One of the men I have loved from the very first day we met and I greeted him whole-heartedly, the second man I had loved once before. Betrayal was at the core of my distain for him. In his eyes and in the tone of his voice, I knew he sought recognition from me. He was hungry for restoration and fellowship; I was hungry for vengeance. Looking into his eyes, I knew I held power over his spirit. I spoke his name to him and patted his shoulder, but would give no more. I dismissed him, knowing his need for fellowship. If I did not want to like him anymore, how could I love him ever again? In my disregard for this fellow Christian, I am the problem hindering transforming love!
Over the years ministering in our community, I have heard pastors and saints speak of conflicts between saints and our various churches. I have heard pastors state congregates do not “like” each other. If we do not like each other in the church, how can we love those outside the church? If the common bond of Christ and the crucifixion is not sufficient to bind us together in love, how then will the circle of the Christian Community grow? Obviously, people like me and I have not learned how to love others as God loves us. In my pursuit with others for community transformation through prayer, I need to understand transforming love for our community. How does God love me in the face of my betrayal of Him?
In First John 4:9-10, we learn of God’s active love to draw us to Himself.
“9 In this the love (AGAPE) of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love (AGAPE), not that we loved God, but that He loved (AGAPAO) us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words states of the above verses, “Love can be known only from the actions it prompts. God's love is seen in the gift of His Son. But obviously this is not the love of complacency, or affection, that is, it was not drawn out by any excellency (sic) in its objects, Rom 5:8. It was an exercise of the divine will in deliberate choice, made without assignable cause save that which lies in the nature of God Himself, Cf. Deut 7:7,8.”
Vine’s explanation speaks volumes as to how God loves you and me. God’s love, it is not complacent or merited love towards me. God is not waiting for the “perfect” me before God will love me. God has chosen to love me in spite of me. God’s nature is to love so God actively express His love towards me! In First John 4:11 we read “11 Beloved, if God so loved (AGAPAO) us, we also ought to love (AGAPAO) one another.” Scripture instructs me to love others in an active manner, not based on the merit of the other person, but solely because as a Christian, I am to reflect the nature of God. I must make the deliberate choice to love my circle of community. However, how is this kind of love an influence to our community at large?
The above question is most important to transformation endeavors. Jesus has spoken to the important function of Christian love in the church. Jesus states in John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love (AGAPAO) one another; as I have loved (AGAPAO) you, that you also love (AGAPAO) one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love (AGAPE) for one another.” This love for one another is the witness of our fidelity to Christ. We cannot say we are Christians and not have love for other Christians. I ask you to give attention to the quality of love in the passages I have quoted. Brotherly love is much deeper than friendship.
I suspect Christians may not be aware of the quality of love we are called to express towards one another. There may be confusion regarding the nature of the love necessary for Christian unity. The misunderstanding is centered in the world’s application of “PHILEO” love. “Phileo” love is love of tender affection. This type of love is not of the same depth of quality of agapao or agape love. Vine states “phileo is to be distinguished from agapao in this, that phileo more nearly represents "tender affection." Within the church, we are commanded to love intentionally and certainly NOT contingent on merit! Tender affection is insufficient love for the church; it will not cover the multitude of sin in the church. In First Peter 4:8 we read “8 And above all things have fervent love (agape) for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins.” Only when we exercise deliberate and unmerited love for one another in the church will the greater community know we are Christians. When the greater community is confident of Christian love they will desire to know more of God’s perfect love for themselves. How do I love? How do you love?
A personal note to the pastors who dared to share their heart on this matter: Your honesty and openness has resulted in a deep personal experience of conviction in my own desperate soul. As I move towards reconciliation with this brother, pray for me.
by Grace Alone!
Pastor Steve Perez
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