On the night that Jesus was betrayed, as he washed his disciples feet and became a servant he said these words to his disciples: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35, NIV) It is funny that he would call it a new command. For the three prior years of active ministry he would live out this command to love one another and he would call his disciples to follow his example. On this night, however, love would become unmistakable.
What is love? Paul would tell us so eloquently in 1 Corinthians: “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.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, NIV)
Racism is deeply embedded in our country and its effects are felt on many different levels. It can cloud our vision and cause us to see what is not there to be seen. My challenge to each of us is that we engage each other with love. When we are tempted to make comments in social media or share another’s words ask yourself if your words are words of love to the “other side.” When one’s actions do not make sense, ask yourself what the lens of their life might be which would cause them to respond in the way they did. One does not have to agree but we must understand for without understanding we have no hope for reconciliation.
The stakes could not be higher for Christians. By our love for one another the world will know that we are followers of Jesus and by our unity we will demonstrate to the world that Jesus is God (John 17:23). The reverse is also true for those of us who call ourselves Christians, our lack of love demonstrates are not truly Jesus’ disciples and our disunity give them a reason to question Jesus himself. Ultimately true reconciliation in the hearts and lives of people can only happen through the reconciling work of Jesus in each of our lives.
Finally, I want to share with you a resource I would highly recommend. It is the autobiography of the civil rights worker, John Perkins, Let Justice Roll Down. As I read in these pages how his brother was murdered by a sheriff’s deputy in 1946. Then as I read of members of his church being loaded into a police van that did not go directly to the police station but instead stopped along the way to beat the people in the back. I was again struck by the similarity to today’s events. Through poignant words and a deep conviction for reconciliation through the good news of Jesus Christ, John Perkins has much to teach us.
Blessings,
Pastor Stephen