WITHOUT LOVE

WITHOUT LOVE:

One reason why people today in our post-postmodern culture have trouble with the authority and validity of the Bible is that in several places it reads more like a J.R.R. Tolkien novel than non-fiction. In Genesis there’s the ambiguous reference to the “Nephalim… Sons of God… heroes of old, men of renown,” which conjures up images of legend and myth. In Numbers 22 one can read about a talking donkey and “Balaam,” who is some sort of mercenary witch doctor with the ability to hex/curse one’s enemies - for a price. In 1 Samuel 28 there’s a story about Saul consulting the Witch at Endor who conjures up a ghostly figure from beyond the grave. In Judges 16 Samson sounds like a modern day comic book (anti)hero with superpowers that come from his flowing locks. Of course there’s the story of Jonah; the guy living inside the belly of a giant fish.

What is more is that these “odd” stories are not confined to the Old Testament. In the book of Acts we read a story about Peter’s encounter with “Simon the Sorcerer.” Personally, I can’t help but envision Tim the Enchanter from Monty Python’s The Holy Grail rattling off his infamous quote to King Arthur and his noble knights (and their coconuts) on their quest for the Holy Grail:

“Follow. But! Follow only if ye be men of valor! For the entrance to this cave is guarded by a creature so foul, so cruel, that no man yet has fought with it... and lived! BONES of full fifty men lie *streewwwnn* about its lair! So! Brave knights! If you do doubt your courage or your strength, come no further, for death awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth…”

Prior to Phillip’s evangelism and to Peter and John’s subsequent arrival in Samaria all the people of the region followed Simon the Sorcerer. The Bible tells us they referred to him as “The Great Power of God.” But when Peter and John arrived they prayed that the new believers would receive the Holy Spirit; then they laid hands on them - and in Acts 8:17 we read, “...and they received the Holy Spirit.”

Simon the Sorcerer was a fraud. The Bible doesn’t tell us what the source of his “great power” was, but like Copperfield, Carbanaro, and every magician, illusionist, and fortune teller out there - it was a sham; and Simon knew it. Therefore, “when Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, ‘Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’”

Simon wanted power without love, which is of course an impossibility because love is the wellspring of true power.

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There’s a good chance that at the next wedding you attend you’ll hear a quote from 1 Corinthians 13. Even if you don’t recognize the address you’ve undoubtedly heard excerpts from the passage:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

While all of those statements are true - the original context is not that of a wedding ceremony, but rather Christian fellowship and unity within the church. The church at Corinth had gone terribly amuck. Paul wrote this letter to them to point out a plethora of deplorable errors, which resulted in divisions and chaos within the church. These misguided people took that which was intended for unity, order, and serenity and turned it into something… else.

There was squabbling among teachers about whose interpretation was right. There were those babbling in unintelligible “tongues,” which nobody could understand. There were some boasting about what some had donated for “the benefit of the poor” when in reality it was about the notoriety of getting their name etched on a pew or a building dedicated in their name.

So Paul pointed out that it wasn’t about power and prestige. While preachers can become drunk on prestige and prominence, while teachers and professors get puffed up with knowledge and notoriety, and while every gift from God has the potential of becoming tainted and perverted in the hands and hearts of sinful humanity… the one - and only way - we cannot miss is to simply and truly love others.

God blesses all of us with many gifts. When those gifts are not applied intentionally, obediently,  and relentlessly to the advancement and fulfillment of His mission, i.e. “all the families on earth will be blessed through you,” then we reveal we have not received the Holy Spirit and that we are bereft of His love, which is the only authentic kind that exists.

The question isn’t just “Are you serving?” but rather “Are you loving?”

The answer doesn’t come in the form of a checklist of things you’re doing. The answer comes in the form of actual people who have come to know the love of Christ at the Cross of Calvary through you. That’s what God meant when He said “all the families on earth will be blessed through you;” one rejoicing soul at a time.

We’re all called to lay hands, i.e. serve in the trenches. We’re all called to mission. We’re all called to love practically. What makes a great missionary is having the love of Christ welling up to overflowing springs of living water, which allows us to live as Paul did and truly say, “I want to know Christ--yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”

That, my friends, is love.

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com