Questions from, "How do I love my brother when I don't even like him?"

This Blog is dedicated to answering questions that are posted during our collegiate worship service. I attempt to answer questions during the message. However, if time does not allow, I will blog these answers.

To hear the message go to I-tunes and search for Nine30 college ministry or Bruce Venable.

To see the notes given during the service, visit www.youversion.com/groups/nine30. From here select “events” then “past”. Topics are listed.

These questions come from the service on November 8th, 2009 entitled “How do I love my brother when I don’t even like him.” The text is 1 Peter 1:22-2:3.

Is the love discussed in these passages an emotional love, or more akin to an eternal commitment in Christ? Most people, regardless of their relationship with Christ, believe they can love. If someone doesn't have Christ, can they truly love in the biblical sense?

Great Question! The word love in this text is “phileo” which means brotherly love or with tender affections. Remembering that Peter is writing to Christians undergoing various trials, this would make sense. In such a scenario, they must depend on each other to be able to stand strong. Additionally, there should be something unique about their unity that is attractive to the non-believing community.
Three other words for love come from the Greek. “storge’” is the love for family or deep friendship, “agape” is unconditional love that we experience from God, and “eros”, which is sexual love.

You certainly do not have to be a Christian to love. Within the wiring we receive from God in creation comes the capacity to love (brother, family, friends, intimately). I have known some non-believers, as probably you, that exhibit love in some very incredible ways. In Christ, however, there is a new standard. Because we have tasted of the goodness of the Lord, we can love unconditionally. That is the “agape” love you refer to in your question. It is a love without any strings attached.

In Matthew 5:43 – 47 Jesus raises the bar on unconditional love. Matthew 5:43-48 (NIV) 43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

One other reference and I’ll stop. Hopefully, I’ve answered your question. These passages build a strong understanding that in order to love unconditionally; we must have experience unconditional love from God. 1 John 4:7-12 (NIV) 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

A second question was submitted. Why do those Christians who seem to quote Scripture the most, often seem to be the most unloving?
Boy, I wish I knew the answer to this one! But let me take a stab at it. My interpretation is that you have had a bad experience with someone. Sometimes Christians become overzealous with trying to “have all the answers” instead of trying to “love your brother or your enemy”. Unfortunately, the results can be somewhat distasteful to others. So a couple of suggestions:
· Remember that the “representative” may not represent the source very well, but don’t let that stop you from seeking truth. Jesus is the one who has given us the message of truth. He is truth. So, when the representative doesn’t look a lot like Jesus… go back to the source.
· Keep in mind that we (believers) are people on a journey. We are sinners trying to work out the kinks of living like our Savior. So, cut them a little slack.
· Don’t be that same type of person. If you are a follower of Christ, learn from others mistakes and God’s word on loving others. Determine that you will be a better representative.

God's Will = God's Will

There seems to be a NO ACCESS policy in scripture when it comes to the future. We simply are not told what the future holds. God's pretty smart that way, knowing we'll obsess our way into changing it so it suits us.
What we do have is FULL ACCESS for today. God simply says to us, surrender today, let tomorrow take care of itself. Want to know God's will, do today what you know to be God's will. That is all you are responsible to do. Follow what you know today. Sound too easy, just try total surrender for a week and get back with me about that.
By following this suggestion, we develop TOTAL ASSURANCE that God can handle tomorrow. Biblical writers aren't worried about tomorrow. They believed that God could handle tomorrow just fine. They struggles were related to surrendering today.
Doing God's Will for today isn't a new concept... it's a forgotten one.

Summer Fun

Summer's here! What does that really mean? For me, lots of planning. So far I've met with a groups to ramp up our personal one to one discipleship ministry, international ministry, a Dallas group to help smaller churches doing collegiate ministry, a Louisiana church to evaluate and make recommendations for their ministry. Tons of other plans to make and details to put in place for the fall. Not my favorite stuff to do... but neccessary.
Sunday nights reports from our International mission teams was awesome! Wow, God has moved in our ministry is some incredible ways.

Next week.... some vacation time!! Cannot wait!