They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Hate

"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

John 13:34‭-‬35 NLT

When I recently reread this portion of text I found the wording and meaning to be so illuminating. Jesus did not say the world would know we were Christians by how we loved the world. He actually said the world would know we were Christians by how we loved other Christians! And when I think about why He said this it makes so much sense.

We can excuse the world to some extent because they don't know God. They're blind and haven't yet experienced the truth. But those that do know God, know the truth. Possibly for that reason, we sometimes deal very harshly with one another. We absolutely should have a standard, but if that standard doesn't include grace and mercy, what hope is there for any of us?!

I've seen an anti grace anti mercy stance frequently in online Christian groups I've belonged to. The way we talk to and interact with other believers can be deplorable even by the world's standard. The lack of gentleness and speed to attack one another is concerning and grievous. It's a direct indication of our lack of love. If we truly loved, our approach while not entirely perfect, would look closer to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (Love is patient. Love is kind... ).

Somehow we have separated 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 to only apply to weddings, marriage, and vow renewals; people that have "earned" our trust or we view worthy of loving. No. The surrounding context is the church. As the church, this is the type of love God expects us to show ALL believers.

Unfortunately, our model of love often mimics the world's more than it does the Bible. Three strikes you're out. I remember that time 10 years ago when you sinned. I remember who you were before you were saved so, I will keep you over there. You can come to our church but you'll never be "clean enough" for our circle. Attitudes of that nature is exactly why 1 Corinthians 13 includes "love keeps no records of wrongs". God doesn't remember our sins, but we are secretly keeping a running tally on our brothers and sisters.

However, this love disconnect and inability for believers to treat other believers correctly is nothing new. Those popular Corinthian love verses were as necessary back then as they are now because the church of Corinth had quarreling and discord brewing. Paul wrote them and addressed it. So again when you go back to 1 Corinthians 13 you can also look at it in a historical lens. Paul was saying "You proclaim Christ but aren't living like it. Let me tell you what love is. "

Going back to the opening text of Jesus, our lack of love is showing the world we're liars and we aren't true Christians. If we were, we wouldn't treat our brothers and sisters with such hate. I purposefully use the word hate and liars because that's the seriousness that the bibles holds this.

1 John 4:20 "If someone says, "I love God," but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don't love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?

We can't have the cake and eat it too. I hear Christians constantly quoting "love your neighbor as yourself", but then destroying their neighbor with harsh criticism, slander, gossip, and even foul language. We put on pause that we would never want that same dose of criticism we pour out. We should fear God too much to be so hurtful to one another.

I don't have a 3 point solution to this, but I do believe this is an infection that needs to be stopped before it develops gangrene. At that point the only salvaging is by way of amputation. Cut it out before God cuts it off. I'm committed to do my part and let the love of God work in me, so I can in turn love my brothers and sisters. It's one of the only ways. I can't give or pour out what I don't possess. So if I'm low on love I need God to refuel me. He is love so He is the fueling station. Then the world will believe my testimony and move closer to salvation instead of further away. They will know we are Christians by our love.