‘Τεκνία μου, μὴ ἀγαπῶμεν λόγῳ μηδὲ τῇ γλώσσῃ, ἀλλὰ ἐν ἔργῳ καὶ ἀληθείᾳ.’
“Children, do not love in word, neither with the tongue, but in action and truth.”
– 1st John 3:18
Is it possible for us to read this and separate loving only in word with not loving at all?
Frequently, when this verse is mentioned it’s implications are only cursorily explored; “When we say we love our neighbors, but we don’t give them a hand with the groceries…” “When we say we love our Christian brother or sister and we don’t confront them with the things we see in their lives…” “When we say we love our spouse but we don’t put the toilet seat down even though we know they don’t like it…” First of all, if I were your neighbor and you came over, picked up a grocery bag out of the trunk of my car and then began following me into my house, I wouldn’t think “love” was driving you to do it but “crazy.” Secondly, confronting your fellow Christian IS a loving thing to do, but it’s simplistic and immature if it’s ALL that’s done. In other words, without real depth of relationship experienced and proven through actions and shared time together, the words seem hollow, judgmental, pretentious and uncaring. And, as far as the toilet seat analogy goes, come on! Being husband and wife is much more than toilet seat positions and toothpaste in the sink. The illustration is superficial at best, not coming close to penetrating to the heart of what John is talking about in his letter. His message to the wife or husband would be something more like, “When you say this Tuesday is ‘date night,’ and then cancel it for gossip with the girls or games with the guys or work, you are NOT loving your spouse.” Saying one thing and doing another is unloving, is not in line with God’s character and not a hallmark of His Kingdom.
...More to come.
-SRD
"These Words" ~ Natasha Bedingfield
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