Sometimes you do not know what people are doing for you at the moment of the deed. Years ago on the mission field some students wished to honor me. With the casual gathering [it was a secret surprise], the spirit of the occasion [as viewed by this American] was one of informal fun. There was a lot of laughing, teasing, and good humor. The students dressed me in what appeared to me to be a ridiculous outfit and made some amused, giggling requests of me that seemed even more ridiculous. At the end of this hilarious occasion [and it was!], they gave me an African name. A year later by an accidental circumstance, I realized the incredible honor they gave me!
When Jesus told his disciples that he was giving them a new commandment to love each other as he had loved them, they had little idea of how much he loved them. The thought of a Jew loving another Jew was in no way new to them (Matthew 22:34-40). That thought was as old as Moses' instructions (Leviticus 19:18). The commandment for Jews to love other Jews was an old commandment! The "new" part was the focus on Jesus' love for them.
There is a special bond that is to exist among those who place their primary confidence in Jesus Christ! If your response is, "I know that!" ask yourself the question, "Do I really know that?" It is easy to "know that" until people we do not care for place their faith in Jesus Christ. Then, suddenly, "proving themselves" to meet our satisfaction becomes more important to us than loving them for trusting the Savior we trust.
It is an old problem. As long as all Christians were Jews, it was acceptable to love others. However, when people who were not Jews began to become Christians, loving others became a huge problem [for glimpses of that problem, see Acts 15:1-21 and 21:17-26].
That same problem is alive today among Christians. It is much simpler to love Christians who are "just like us" than it is to love Christians who are extremely different to us.
Current examples. (1) Consider our internal divisions. These are the divisions that exist within the church among believing, repenting, baptized believers who place their faith in Jesus Christ. We speak of sincere converts to Jesus Christ, not of those who continue to be unconcerned or moderately concerned about spiritual things because they knowingly choose to be more concerned about physical priorities than spiritual priorities. If "outside" forces will leave us alone, we seem determined to turn on each other and internally tear ourselves to shreds. If "you" do not come to the same conclusions "I" do regarding "my" concerns, then "you" are not a faithful Christian regardless of how deep and genuine your faith in Jesus Christ is. How can we love each other as Jesus Christ loves us if we can resent deeply Christians who disagree with us?
(2) Consider the fear of "losing control" of "our" congregation. Should we convert people from the inner city? Absolutely! How many should we convert? If "they" stay "down there," convert all that it is possible to convert. If "they" are coming "here with us," most of the time we do not wish to convert enough to be a majority. Should we convert people who speak only Spanish [or some other language besides English]? Are not the concerns basically the same? Discuss any lines of separation we wish--social, economic, racial, linguist, style of worship, etc. Are not the issues similar?
In theory, we place a high priority on bringing people to Christ. In actuality, we want to remain in control by furthering relationships of dependency. [Certainly, it is a complex problem containing many real questions that must be addressed.] The point is not to suggest a simple solution exists. The point is not to suggest that multiple congregations with differing priorities in some way defies scripture. The point is that the fear of "losing control" opposes loving other Christians as Jesus loved his disciples.
(3) Consider the conviction that God loves American Christians more than He loves Christians in other countries. Among the congregations of the Church of Christ, there are more Christians in Nigeria, West Africa, than there are in the U.S.A. There are likely more Christians in India than in either Nigeria or the U.S.A. [if there is not, such soon will be true]. We in the U.S.A. have not been the majority for years. Does God rejoice in the conversion of a person who is not an American as much as He rejoices in the conversion of an American? Does your heart say the same thing your head says?
Certainly, we could add to these illustrations. However, for a moment, consider how much Jesus loved his disciples. Paul, who was not one of the twelve, said Jesus loved enough to sacrifice everything. Read Philippians 2:5-8. Jesus not only sacrificed everything. He became what he helped make and died. Jesus himself said, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). He loved people enough to trust God to resurrect him and restore him to his pre-birth position (see John 17). He loved people enough to be their way to God (John 14:6; Hebrews 1:1,2; 7:25-8:6; 10:19,20). He loved us enough to make us children of God (1 John 3:1-3). Everything, including resurrection, reconciliation, sanctification, forgiveness, hope, mercy, grace, prayer, etc. depends on Jesus' love for us. Without his love for us we would be helpless before God in Whom there is no sin.
Jesus wants those who follow him to bond with each other in selflessness just as he bonded with his disciples. The extent of that bonding is reflected in Galatians 6:1,2 and 1 John 3:13-24. Much more is involved than being an acquaintance or coming to the same building each week. The evidence that we belong to the God who cares about people is found in our caring about people. When we refuse to care about people, we cannot belong to the God Who sent Jesus because He cared about people (see Jonah 4:9-11 and John 3:16-21).
For Thought and Discussion
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 1