All In the Name of Love

           What have you done in the name of love? Spent your money and time extravagantly to win the love of that special "someone"? Stayed up all night nursing a sick child - over and over again? Given months, years of your life as caregiver to a sick parent or spouse? Stuck by someone as they struggled with a mental illness or an addiction? Defied "conventional wisdom" and married someone others thought would be bad for you?

 It's not that every one of these actions is always necessarily good or wise: it's that we do them! Yes, Love has gotten a cheap reputation because of its inglorious imitators such as Lust, Greed, Control, and Dependency. But love is still the most powerful thing ever granted by God to human beings. It makes us risk things we would never risk for any other reason, find energy we didn't think we had, and go beyond ourselves over and over again.

And that makes it gloriously dangerous.

            I've been there. I well remember when my husband Al and I were getting to know each other. Even though we were both mature adults we sometimes stumbled awkwardly in our early courting moves. There were many nights I didn't sleep over an hour, trying to sort out all that was going on in my own heart and between us, and seeking God's direction for what seemed like an out-of-this-world situation.

            What picture comes to mind with you think of "love"?

-       A mother nurturing her baby?

-       A young man on one knee asking his lady for her hand?

-       Feelings of well-being while in your loved one's embrace?

-       Jesus holding out his hand, saying, "I forgive you"?

          Yes, those images do depict much about love. But there's something relatively superficial about all that. Let me propose a very different picture of love.

When Love Goes to War

          Picture instead the classic fairy tale where the fair maiden is held captive by someone or something evil. The dashing young man must wage war with dragons or demons or hell itself to rescue her - all in the name of love. In mythology, consider the years of war over Helen of Troy.

            There's some part of every woman that wishes to be longed for, fought for, and rescued. And there's some part of every man that longs to win the battle, and in doing so win the love of the one he wishes to have as his own. This picture of love that resonates most deeply within us is also a picture of war!

            And all's fair in love and war, right? Or at least all bets are off. Remember how far you've gone, perhaps risking your own reputation or future, over very real - if very human - love.

            That's also the picture of love we see from God Himself. Think of the Bible as a whole. Think of the beginning in Genesis, when mankind was created by the hand of God Himself. Think of the entry of sin and the brokenness, the violence, the sickness and death that took over. Think of the Old Testament stories full of drama, intrigue, dysfunctional families, war, exile, heart-felt poetry and despairing laments.

            Think of the New Testament stories full of wonder, passion, and risk. Think of Jesus' demonstration of the extravagant love of God for people who didn't love Him, and the early Christians' willingness to abandon all they knew to follow "God With Us." And think of the final chapter - the picture of God's victory in the cosmos, Jesus' triumphant return to claim His Bride, and the "happily ever after" with which the book closes.

            Doesn't that sound like the most dramatic and engaging of fairy tales? Sure it does. And it does so because it's all so true! It's no fairy tale. It's the story of our lives, and our future.

            And it's the story of love - and war!

Love in Action

           Love is something much more than a feeling. Love is a verb. Perhaps you've heard that before, but how are you doing on the action part of love?

We know that God is love: Scripture tells us that. But how do we know that?

We know God's love because of what He has done, and what He continues to do.

What did love mean to God? He saw the objects of His love - us - in trouble. He saw us broken, sick, and alienated in our messed up, sinful world, held captive by His enemy and doomed. But He didn't just look on in pity: He took action! He did whatever it took to rescue the ones He loved, and to win the heart of His bride. And He keeps on wooing us all the time. Then when we respond, He works His wonderful "magic" to make us able to join Him in doing the work of governing the universe with Him for eternity.

Just think of that for a moment. The God of the universe wants you that much! He's gone to those lengths to rescue you and to create a truly "happily ever after" future for you. He's gone to war for you against His enemy (and yours), and He has won!

Now what are YOU doing in the name of love? What is putting the object(s) of your love in danger? What are you doing about it? How are you working to "rescue" them?

Such action starts first at home. If you are married, remember that your spouse is not your enemy! But some things ARE putting your spouse in danger, and part of loving them is doing what you can to "rescue" and "protect" them. Those dangers may include fear, anxiety, over-work, other people's opinions, or negative self-talk. You can do much to help your spouse overcome those dangers.

If you have children, you probably understand this aspect of parental love. The culture at large, well-meaning friends, and God's enemy all have plans for your children. Part of your job as a parent is to wage war against these dangers, and then to help your children develop their own strength to stand against them on their own.

Who else do you believe you love? Who else do you care about? Whose joy do you celebrate and whose pain do you cry over? And what are you doing about it?

Perhaps it's those affected by illiteracy, substance abuse, mental illness, poverty, hunger, gambling, pornography, or human trafficking. Perhaps it's lonely seniors, sick children, returning military personnel, or those fighting a particular illness. It may be in your own neighborhood or on the other side of the globe. But if there's any love in your heart, it demands action.

And as far as your love for God, that demands action too. Jesus said so (see John 14:15,21). It means doing what He says, letting Him change your whole being, and doing the mission He sends you to do.

So why not let your love stir your heart enough to go to war. Make sure you remember that the one(s) you love are not the enemy: it's who or what is putting them in danger.

Let your love grow enough to act. It's exhilarating! And you'll become more and more like God in the process.

Until we talk again, In Christ's Love and Freecom,

 
Dr. Carol Tanksley