So let’s run with social media’s perceived favorite new mantra: #LoveWins. I agree. Nothing is bigger, better, more poignant or powerful. Above all things, there is love. My question is if we know what love is.
I am not attempting to be flippant or ambiguous. I just think we’re wavering in our definition and inconsistent in our application.
In Sunday’s post, for example, I referenced those way too many who followed their hashtags of “LoveWins” or “SinWins” with a self-justified “TakeThat.” My solemn sense is that any who embrace that style of communication have both a limited comprehension of the unspeakable depth of love in addition to the true depravity of sin. There is no place for a “TakeThat”… by any of us.
We don’t know what love is.
Love is not selective. Love is not oppressive. Love is not limited. Love means all lives matter.
It does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.
Love means no “in your face” style of communication — a style, which unfortunately, immediately diminishes the credibility of our point. We can’t say “I don’t care if I offend you,” “I don’t care if you don’t feel respected,” or simply an “I don’t care” and truly comprehend what love is. Friends, that is not love.
There is no place for these self-justified, rhetorical slams…
- against our LGBT friends who’ve felt oppressed for far too long
- against our Christian friends who genuinely believe homosexuality is wrong
- against Pres. Obama
- against Bristol Palin
- against the 2016 Presidential candidates
- against the black community
- against the white community
(… against… against… against…)
Let me be clear; it is completely ok to disagree with someone, and it is completely ok to disagree passionately with their opinion and/or behavior. What’s not ok is to embrace such hate-filled rhetorical slams. That’s not love. We can’t preach hate against any group and expect to be a non-hypocritical voice in regard to what love really is. Love is the only thing on this planet that prevails, but our inconsistent application shows we don’t really know what it is.
In one of the early weeks of the Intramuralist — geepers, some seven sweet years ago — we posted the following, (in my semi-humble opinion) exceptionally clever but true insight:
“We live in a culture where all we need is supposedly love, yet still, at times, it seems rare indeed. There exists way too much oppression, bigotry, and worship of man-made concoctions an earring short of a golden calf. Too many leaders have embraced a leadership style that values speaking louder (more than listening), subduing dissenting opinion (more than learning), and surrounding self with like thinking (more than being sharpened by another). To me, those contradict a love that makes the world go round.
What is real love?
I’ve heard it’s a splendored thing; it’s a verb; and it will keep us together. They say you can’t buy it, can’t hurry it, and some will stop in the name of it. Others question how deep it is, if it will still exist tomorrow, and what it really has to with anything. Some love rainy nights. Some rock ‘n roll. Be careful, though, as several will say it stinks, bites, and claim you’ve lost it. Yet as I ponder the wisdom in knowing the power of love, I am spurred on by something that’s real.”
May we each be spurred on by what’s real… by a splendored and powerful thing.
Respectfully…
AR
After reading your article and many others upon this subject, here are some of my own thoughts:
On Facebook, I have family and friends sharing their glee for the supreme court’s decision on gay marriage. After seeing all the rainbow tinted photos and icons, I decided to walk away from social media and seek God’s help in my angst.
I grieve for the supreme court’s decision on gay marriage—that man arrogantly defines marriage in his own way and ignores the greater truth of what marriage is about—a mystery and reflection of a greater reality—Christ’s love for his bride, the church.
I am also challenged for my desire to be right, that I will love only those who are on my side, that I will only spend time with people who are like me and that I will only speak plainly on a computer screen.
Another great article to read: http://www.scotluman.org/blog/winning
“Love wins when we begin to seek the truth and share it for the purpose of setting free those who have bought into the lies rather than condemning them. Love wins when we stop caring about winning and start caring about one another.”