The Supremacy of Love...the first step in the journey

Back when I served as pastor in East Texas, I felt the LORD leading me to preach through 1 Corinthians.  It was a great experience, and it helped me gain a better understanding of how we as followers of Christ are supposed to relate to each other.  But chapter 13 had the most profound impact, and it started me on a path that I am still trying to understand.

I highly recommend you read 1 Corinthians 13 before reading this post.  And I mean all of it.  Don't just assume you know what it says.  That's what I did at first, and then when I actually studied it, I was floored.

1 Corinthians is a letter from Paul to the Corinthian church that addresses several problems that had arisen among them.  In Chapter 12 he spends a great deal of time discussing the importance of unity and how now one person is more important than the other.  He uses the imagery of a human body and how all the intricate parts work together.  And then he closes the chapter with "And now I will show you the most excellent way."  In other words, as important as what he just said is, what's coming is even more so.

The first three verses of Chapter 13 are often quoted as evidence that the sign gifts are still around.  But I don't think that's the point.  I think the point Paul is making here is that it doesn't matter how gifted he is at anything, if he does not have love, then those gifts are pointless.  Love is supreme; without it nothing we do is effective.  It doesn't matter if we have perfect doctrine, strong ministries, beautiful buildings, or skilled pastors--if we do not have love, then we're nothing.

Nowadays that seems to be the first thing to go.  I know several men and women who can quote the Bible backwards and forwards, know church history almost better than American history, and can give seamless arguments based on the Bible of why abortion, homosexuality, and evolution are not Godly positions.  But when it comes to people who love others, and love others to the extent that Christ has commanded us...

I can think of maybe four people.  And none of those four people is me.

So if Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, says that love is the most important thing a follower of Christ can have--so much so that nothing else matters without it--but it is the thing that we are least known for in modern day Christianity, then clearly we've missed the boat somewhere.

The next questions to come up is, "Well, what does it look like to love?  How am I supposed to love other people?"  Enter verses 4-7.  You all can probably quote it with me.  "Love is patient.  Love is kind...etc."  That's what love looks like.  Where does it say love judges hearts?  No where.  Where does it say love ridicules in the name of good doctrine?  No where.  Where does it say love means telling people to be more like me?  No where.  In fact, everything I read about love suggests that you put other people before yourself.

And yes, I did read where it says, "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth."  But that does not say we get to be mean about the truth.  If, when Christopher Hitchins died, your reaction was, "Ha!  Bet he's not an atheist now!" then you were not showing love...you were delighting in the evil of watching a man created by God perish.  If, when Joel Osteen supposedly left the faith, your reaction was, "Ha!  I'm not surprised.  He wasn't a real Christian anyway," then you were not showing love...you were delighting in the evil of watching someone lose their faith in God.  We have to be able to have our beliefs without being buttholes about them.  Why?  BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS TO DO!!!

Finally, Paul makes the point that love is the only thing that will last forever.  All the things that we think are so important will one day pass away.  There will come a time when even Scripture will be obsolete.  When Jesus returns, we'll have no need for Bibles, because the very Word of God will be standing before us (John 1:1).  The only thing that will endure into eternity is love.  "But these three remain: faith, hope, and love.  And the greatest of these is love."

It was from here that some thoughts started churning in my mind.  Those will have to wait for another post.  For now, chew on this, and if you have any comments, please feel free to share.

Remember, it doesn't matter how right you are, if you do not have love for the person you speak to when you speak truth, then you might as well not speak at all.

I leave you with a quote that a good friend of mine shared on his Facebook wall.  "Truth without love is merely facts, and facts have never set anyone free."

Keep Soaring,

B  

A journey I've been traveling...

I named this blog "God's Forge" because I wanted it to chronicle the process of refinement that God has been putting me through.  Over the past year or so, I've been on what my OT professor at SWBTS would call a "journey of faith."  I was going to write a book about this journey, and I still may, but it would be remiss of me not to share at least some parts of it here.

A few days ago, I posted on my Facebook a question, especially directed at my friends who were not Christians.  I got several responses, all of which I appreciate.  The question was, "What are Christians known for today?"  Here are the responses I received:

"You won't like the answer to this question."  "Most of the people I work with...talk about how judgmental the Christians they knew are."  "I expect most Christians to be hypocritical."  "I think of someone who believes in Christ."  "Today, someone saying they are 'christian' is like saying they are not muslim or not buddhist."  "I think someone who is like Christ."  "Good people in general."  "Someone being like Christ."

Warranted or not, we as followers of Christ are known for our judgment, hypocrisy, and religious beliefs.  And I have known many a Christian who thinks, "Oh they're just generalizing.  We're not all like that."  That may be true, but the fact remains that we are still known for these things.

Here's the problem with that:  "By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another."  --John 13:35

We're not supposed to be known for our judgment of others.  We're not supposed to be known for hypocrisy.  We're not even supposed to be known for our religious beliefs.  The defining characteristic of a follower of Christ is that he/she loves others.  And it seems that is now the least important part of being a Christian.

Brothers and sisters, it doesn't matter how good our doctrine is or how strong our beliefs are or how many people we can convince to "jump on our bandwagon."  If we don't have love, then we are missing the point of what it means to follow Christ.  We have an image problem, and we need to take steps to correct it.

I have so much more to say on this, but that will have to wait for the next post.  In the meantime, fellow Christians, ask yourself this:  "What am I known for?  Am I known for what I'm against and what I am willing to argue about?  Or am I known for my love?"

Keep Soaring,

B  

Making Disciples...do we really do that anymore?

My dad and I have been reading through Kingdom Man by Tony Evans for the past several weeks. The other night, as we discussed the latest chapter that we had read, our conversation went to the topic of discipleship. Throughout the discussion, I began to reflect on where I am now and how I got to here.

I was lucky in that growing up I had a plethora of Godly men to look up to. Of course, my dad was always there, and the way he lived his life was an example to me. As I grew older, God blessed me with a pastor and youth minister who recognized God's call on my life and spent time training me. In college and during my time at Seminary, I had several brothers in Christ, many of which I met with on a regular basis, who encouraged and me, and I still have kept in touch with many of them. Now, I'm in an accountability relationship nearly ten years strong that has helped to keep me on the straight and narrow. Looking back on my life, I can truly say that I have been, and still am being, discipled. All of these men that have contributed to my spiritual well being did so above and beyond the call of duty associated with their positions. These men were more than fellow church goers. In a very real sense, they were Brothers.

The sad thing is that I realize just how rare this is. How many men can point to someone they can call on right now to help them in a crisis? How many men in the church are meeting with their Brothers more than during Sunday school? How many of us have truly invested our LIVES into someone else so that they may grow closer to Christ?

Or are we content to just shake hands and smile on Sunday morning? Do we let Sunday activities be the extent of our discipleship? Jesus spent three years of his life living teaching His disciples ON A DAILY BASIS! If we are His followers, shouldn't we do the same?

I have been given so much in my life. My faith today is a result of a long line of men willing to take time out of their schedule to invest in me, even when it was inconvenient for them. The least I could do is pass that on.

I encourage all of us to find someone we can invest our lives in. Let us do more than just make converts. Let us make disciples. Let us invest in the lives of the people that God has placed in our lives.

To the men who have helped guide me to Christ, you have my humble adoration and gratitude. May God bless you as much as He used you to bless me.

Keep Soaring,

Branson