"If anyone says, 'I love God', but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. This is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother." (1 John 4:20-21)
On what basis or by what standard can one claim to have authentic love? Why is love significant? Love extends our focus beyond ourselves and what we want. It directs our attention to the plight and trouble of others. Love puts others before itself. It is the foundation of morality. Love is different from a mere instinct or psychological obsession because it is recognized by reason and acted on by free will. It is not something which we have no control over. It does not have unrealistic expectations. Love is therefore a pillar which gives even a semblance of peace in this world. It is not an empty sensation, but something acted on.
Just imagine what this world would be like if the concept of love was merely a product of the mentally deranged; not something beautiful and universally experienced. Love is kind. Love is caring. Love entails self-sacrifice. All these concepts are interrelated. They function together in perfect harmony. If love did not exist, then human life would cease to be in just moments. Further, the existence of love presupposes the existence of care. Love rejoices in the truth, and weeps tenderly in the presence of falsehood. Animosity and vindictiveness negates any demonstration of love.
Just imagine what this world would be like if the concept of love was merely a product of the mentally deranged; not something beautiful and universally experienced. Love is kind. Love is caring. Love entails self-sacrifice. All these concepts are interrelated. They function together in perfect harmony. If love did not exist, then human life would cease to be in just moments. Further, the existence of love presupposes the existence of care. Love rejoices in the truth, and weeps tenderly in the presence of falsehood. Animosity and vindictiveness negates any demonstration of love.
If people cannot work together because of hatred, then life on earth would come to an unnecessary, abrupt termination because no further progress could be made. Love and hatred cannot co-exist because they are diametrically opposed to each other. In addition, hatred brews other states of heart such as being prideful, jealous, selfish, and unforgiving. Hatred is the foundation of immorality and lawlessness. Without love, life would collapse like a line of dominoes. Mankind cannot thrive without love, any more than a tree can survive without water. Hatred presents us with a rather hopeless and miserable picture of life in general.
We cannot claim to love God while possessing contempt and ill will in our hearts for other people. It is not possible for us to obey Him while holding animosity toward other people. In fact, no Christian has power in himself to faithfully live out the Christian life. It is not something natural to man, but must be brought about by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. We have even been admonished by the Apostle Paul to not let the sun set on our anger. Remaining in such a spiritual condition can have ominous consequences (Ephesians 4:26). Jesus Christ Himself associated hatred with murder (Matthew 5:22-26).
Hatred is incompatible with the self-sacrificial love demonstrated by the life of Jesus Christ. It is entirely out of touch with Christian charity. Thus, people who claim to be serving God faithfully, who at the same time are continually harboring hatred for others in their hearts, are liars. They are not acting according to God's revealed will for us. They are not acting consistently with their profession of faith. Their profession is unreliable and without merit. On the basis of divine revelation and plain reason we can claim to know what love is. God Himself is love.
Love of God and love of neighbor fulfills the Law. Love of God and love of neighbor is the basis on which true morality stands. We cannot grow in our relationship with Him, if we do not love Him and other people. It rather counts as evidence against any claim one can make to actually knowing Him. We are called to hate that which is evil, but hatred toward others is destructive to who we are as people. No one really lives up to the standard of love which God expects us to live up to.
Love of God and love of neighbor fulfills the Law. Love of God and love of neighbor is the basis on which true morality stands. We cannot grow in our relationship with Him, if we do not love Him and other people. It rather counts as evidence against any claim one can make to actually knowing Him. We are called to hate that which is evil, but hatred toward others is destructive to who we are as people. No one really lives up to the standard of love which God expects us to live up to.
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