Imagine mathematicians who forgot how to add and subtract, scientists who abandoned the scientific method, or musicians who never learned the musical scale.
Kind of a ridiculous contradiction isn't it?
Yet all the time we see something just as bizarre and most of the time we don't even think about it: Christians who have forgotten Christ's challenge to live a life of absolute, unconditional love for all of humanity.
I mean, what is the most important thing to do as a Christian? There is not a whole lot of wiggle room on this one. Jesus flat out says it: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind."
This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets" (Matthew 22:37-40).
For some reason, I thought of that during the "Christians vs. Mormons" letters that appeared last week on the Forum page. See, maybe it's just me being unreasonable, but I've always felt that if someone is going to promote Christianity, Christian morals, or Christian political views, they are required to be ultra-loving about it. Should they fail to meet that reasonable expectation, perhaps by lumping someone else's faith into the same category as fringe groups whose members castrate themselves and drink poisoned Kool-Aid, they kind of lose credibility.
Hate to be a broken record: You do not convert people by picking apart their religion or "proving" Christianity to them. You do it by befriending them and loving them. You have to open the heart before you can fill it. It's that simple. Now feel free to bring me back to the flock whenever is most convenient.
It's a radical statement: "Love everyone." And, oh, is it ever hard because hate and anger are natural, easy and culturally-reinforced, and they feel good in the short term.
Of course it's impossible and I fail every day. But when you understand what love truly is, there is no longer any other option. Love is the sacrifice of the self. Through love, one overcomes the barriers of our personal isolation. We become one with humanity and the universe.
"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you" (Luke 6:27-28).
If you're a Democrat, love George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. If you're a Republican, love John Kerry. If you're gay, love Jerry Falwell. And all of us need to love Osama bin Laden. (Whoa! Is it even legal to say that?)
Just try it. You'll feel a lot better, trust me.
That kind of screws everything up, doesn't it?
I mean, it would really mess up the economy if we all started living Christianity instead of "believing" in it. Status quo would just go down the toilet.
"But that's impossible, Dave. You're a childish idealist. People are fundamentally stupid and evil. Look at the world we live in! Only a moron would suggest that!"
Hey, I guess I'm just going to have to pull a Mel Gibson on this one. If you're going to throw some criticism, don't aim it at me. It's Jesus who's the moron here.
Write to David at swimminginbrokenglass@yahoo.com
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