The Power of Love

 

“Nothing can live in God but as it lives in love. So that love alone is the cure of every evil; and he that lives in the purity of love is delivered from the power of evil into the freedom of the Spirit of love.”

— Andrew Murray, Daily in His Presence (September 10 reading)

I’ll admit, when I first read these words, I struggled to accept them. Can love really overcome the darkest parts of our world? Common sense tells me that evil needs to be fought with power and strength. Love alone doesn’t seem sufficient to combat the evil of the day.

Do I believe that “love alone is the cure for every evil”? 

Intellectually I do, but in my heart I doubt. Love might provide the motivation—after all, I want to protect those I care about—but it seems to me that force is necessary to win the battle against evil.

This tension is something I wrestle with as I follow Jesus. I still cling to the idea that there are times when combating evil with strength, even violence, is what’s needed. But then I hear Jesus’ words, challenging my thinking:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” 

— Matthew 5:43-45 (CSB)

Jesus points us to the example of God, who pours out love even on those in rebellion against Him. He loves them despite their actions.

This is the kind of love we’re called to—a love that is active, persistent, and sacrificial. It was this kind of love that caused the early church to flourish. They cared for orphans, embraced the marginalized, and risked their lives to care for the sick during pandemics. This wasn’t passive love. It was love in action.

As the early church practiced sacrificial love, two significant things happened. First, the church grew. They embodied what they believed, and their communities received a small taste of the Kingdom of God.

Second, the morals and values they lived by laid the foundation for Western civilization. The world before Jesus was violent and dark. But as His followers lived out love for God and their neighbors, the moral landscape of the world began to slowly change.

Love may not be an instant fix for evil, but when practiced consistently, it changes things. It transforms hearts, heals wounds, and reshapes societies. Love is an investment for the future, and when we commit to it, we start to see its quiet yet profound power.

Romans 13 and a Philosophy of Government

 

Submission is the norm; non-submission is the exception.  

— John Whittaker and Daniel McCoy, Following Jesus in a Politically Divided World

No matter who we are or what our political views may be, all of us are affected by government. The State is responsible for making and enforcing the laws that govern our country. Even in the "land of the free," it’s hard to find an area of life that the government doesn’t at least influence.

In the book Following Jesus in a Politically Divided World, authors John Whittaker and Daniel McCoy suggest reading Romans 13:1-7 and then doing this writing exercise:  

“Based on this passage and other Bible passages you have read, write a short (we are thinking a paragraph) ‘personal philosophy of government’ that will help you filter out the noise and stay focused on the main things to look for in candidates and expect from the government” (p. 20).

As much as I have thought about politics throughout my life, I realized I have never done something like this. I don’t have a “personal philosophy of government” and figure that it would be good to have one before I deliver the sermon, Clarity about Politics, as part of the Clarity: Think Clearly About Life’s Tough Topics series.

First, here are a few observations I have about Romans 13:1-7:

1. This passage is a continuation of Paul’s teaching about not taking revenge because it is God’s responsibility to avenge wrongdoing. I think this is crucial to remember because it not only explains why God allows the State to wield the sword (we often see God using different kings and kingdoms as instruments of judgment throughout Scripture), but also why Christians are to submit to authority (verses 4-5). 

 

2. Governing authorities exist because they are instituted by God. In the case of the United States, this begins with constitutions—both individual state constitutions and the federal constitution. The United States is governed by the rule of law, not by monarchies or dictators. 

 

3. The most important role of government is to maintain law and order. God allows governments because, left to our own devices, people often take advantage of one another. Government exists to enforce contracts between parties, ensure fair commerce, and punish those who abuse the system. 

 

4. Christians are expected to submit to governing authorities, not because they are always good, but because even when they are bad, they prevent chaos from reigning. Remember, Paul is telling Christians to submit to authorities who are ruthless, crucify rebels, maintain an oppressive tax system, and encourage emperor worship (just to name a few). We should not be planning a revolt against our government, no matter how unjust it might seem.

Personal Philosophy of Government  

Government is instituted by God to maintain peace and promote the prosperity of the nation. It does this by issuing and enforcing just laws, creating and maintaining infrastructure that promotes commerce and safe travel, protecting the liberty of individuals, bringing justice to lawbreakers, and providing for the common defense. To do this job well requires intelligent and virtuous leaders and fair taxes. This allows government to operate in such a way that it pleases God.

I’m not entirely satisfied with this statement, but I do think it provides a nice starting point for refining my thoughts.

This exercise highlights the reality that most people don’t have a thought-out philosophy of government. This leads to the unfortunate fact that people tend to vote based on what they perceive to be their own self-interest. Instead of seeking wise counsel, many people vote based on what seems right to them.  

That describes the state of American political discourse at the moment.

A Silent Message

 

"Before and since Tolkien’s death there have been numerous articles and books on the meaning of his fiction. Kilby [one of his biographers] records Tolkien’s favorable reaction to an essay sent to him from Australia, concerned with the themes of kingship, priesthood, and prophecy in The Lord of the Rings. He [Tolkien] endorsed the spirit of the essay in finding Christian meaning in his work, even though, as he remarked, it displayed the tendency of such scholarly analysis to suggest that it was a conscious schema for him as he wrote. He [Tolkien] didn’t deliberately try to insert Christian meaning into his work—a point over which he disagreed with C.S. Lewis, in whose fantasy he felt the Christianity was too explicit."  

—Colin Duriez, The J.R.R. Tolkien Handbook

Our worldview—the underlying philosophy of life—shapes everything we do. It is formed out of our beliefs about God, humankind, and the world. Our worldview is created, not only by what we have learned through Scripture and Church, but also by other things such as what we learned at school, the family we grew up in, and the movies that we watch.

One of the things that have informed my worldview is J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpiece The Lord of the Rings. In this story I have discovered metaphors and illustrations for what it means to follow Jesus. 

As the above quote shows, Tolkien didn’t set out to write a theological work, but Christian themes naturally emerged nonetheless. His worldview, whether consciously or unconsciously, influenced his storytelling. This reality reminds us that our worldview always affects the work we do.

Since our worldview affects the things we do, then other people’s worldview will affect the things that they create. This is why it’s dangerous to consume stories, TV shows, music, and movies without a discerning eye. Even if creators don’t intentionally embed messages in their work, there’s always a message—something their worldview conveys. 

We need to be mindful of the subtle ways these messages shape how we see the world. As Christians, we should be particularly aware of how the stories we consume influence our thinking.

The effect of these stories can be so subtle that we might not even notice it happening. We may begin to adopt the worldview of the storyteller. For instance, if an author portrays the world as dark and hopeless, we might develop a similarly negative outlook. Or, if an author paints a picture of unrelenting optimism, we might develop an unrealistic expectation of life. Stories profoundly impact how we interpret the world around us.

So, how do we, as Christians, maintain a Christ-centered worldview? 

We maintain a Christian worldview by not allowing the world's narratives to have the primary influence over us. Instead, we need to immerse ourselves in the study of God’s Word and meditating on its truth. We must spend time in prayer, seeking His wisdom. 

It is also important to remember what Thomas à Kempis wisely wrote, “Why wish to see what you cannot have?” 

The stories we consume, along with the music and social media we engage with, often stir desires within us for lives we cannot or should not pursue. While all forms of media can awaken emotions that lead us closer to Christ the opposite can also be true. If taken without discernment, these things can lead us away from Jesus. That is why, as Christians, we must be careful about what we allow into our minds. The power of stories and songs lies in how easily they infiltrate our thinking without us realizing it.

I want to urge all of us to carefully examine the things we read, watch, and listen to, because they hold the power to shape our lives. More importantly, we need to make sure we are regularly filling our hearts and minds with God’s Word. Scripture should be our primary guide and influence.

As Philippians 4:8 (NLT) reminds us:  

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing: Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

We Need the Holy Spirit

 "The immediate and continual inspiration of the Holy Spirit is absolutely needed in your life."

— Andrew Murray, Daily in His Presence (September 5 Reading)

At the foundation of my understanding of the world and the human condition is the belief that human beings are created in the image of God. To be created in the image of God means to act as His representative in the world. Human beings were designed to work alongside God in caring for His good creation.

If we are to work alongside God and demonstrate His character, what do we need?

We need the Holy Spirit. The story in Genesis 3 about the fall of humankind revolves around people’s desire to define right and wrong, good and evil, for themselves. The choice that Adam and Eve faced in the garden was whether to gain wisdom as they walked with God or to seize knowledge for themselves and replace God.

In other words, humans are to be guided by the Spirit rather than by the flesh. Our world is oriented toward the flesh; we seek to do what is right in our own eyes. This orientation stems from sin severing the connection we are meant to have with God. Without this connection, we miss out on God’s wisdom, His love, and His life.

When Jesus died to save us from sin and to give us new life, He made it possible for us to be connected to God once more. That connection is found through the Holy Spirit. The process of discipleship that leads to spiritual maturity involves learning to be guided by the Spirit rather than by our flesh.

Just as Adam and Eve chose to eat the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil—a decision to follow their flesh rather than the Spirit—we need to make the conscious choice to resist the flesh and follow the Spirit. Thankfully, God has given us grace, because this change doesn’t happen overnight. As we progress in our spiritual formation in Jesus, we discover that more and more often we are following the guidance of the Spirit rather than the guidance of our flesh.

If we are to be the people God created us to be, then we need the Holy Spirit guiding our lives.